Proposed Indian start-up seeks jets

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, August 18, 2005

The Associated Press reports http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/19/AR2005081900460.html from Bangalore that a conglomerate best known for its holdings in the textile industry plans to launch a low-cost carrier. The Wadia Group is negotiating with Boeing and Airbus for up to 50 jets.

Key Quote: “The new carrier, GoAir, will operate with up to 22 used Airbus A-320 planes for the first two years, when deliveries of the new planes will begin, Jeh Wadia, managing director of GoAirline (India) Pvt. Ltd, told The Associated Press.”

Elsewhere in the world, Taiwain’s Mandarin Airlines, a subsidiary of China Airlines, is looking to replace its fleet of about a dozen Fokker-built RJs, Flight International reports.

Key Quote: “The narrowbody aircraft types being considered include: Airbus A318s, Airbus A319s, Boeing 737-600s and Boeing 737-700s. The regional jet aircraft from Bombardier and Embraer that fit within the 70-110 seat category include the Bombardier CRJ700, Bombardier CRJ900, Embraer 170 and Embraer 190.”

And in Sydney this week, Qantas said it’s in the process of requesting proposals from Boeing and Airbus on long-haul jets — 787s and 777s or A350s and A340s.

Flight International reported that: “(In June) Qantas told (Air Transport Intelligence) the carrier was looking to order up to 60 new widebodies by year-end but the statement today does not disclose how many aircraft are being sought as part of the RFP or when a selection will be made.”

Here’s the link to that story in Flight: http://www.flightinternational.com/Articles/2005/08/18/Navigation/177/200981/Qantas+to+issue+RFP+for+mid-size+widebodies.html