INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - JULY 2006
THE MONTH THAT WAS...

AIR DECCAN TO BUY $500M ENGINES

AIR DECCAN has signed an agreement with IAE International Aero Engines for V2500SelectSM engines at the ongoing Farnborough International air show in London . The agreement will be extended to cover Air Deccan's existing fleet of 14 Airbus A320 aircraft and an earlier firm order of 30 Airbus A320 aircraft. The latest engine order is valued at more than $500 million (Rs 2,250 crore).

Mark King, president of IAE, said: “With the introduction of V2500SelectSM for its entire fleet, Air Deccan will not only enjoy the low and predictable maintenance costs that this OEM-backed service can bring, but will also be able to focus on achieving its vision of affordable air transport in India for the common man.

Captain GR Gopinath, MD, Air Deccan, said: “The V2500 has played a vital part in our success to date with its reliable and fuel efficient operation and, through V2500SelectSM we expect to see ongoing improvements not only in terms of performance but also asset value.” V2500SelectSM is a combined engine upgrade and after market support programme which improves fuel burn, reduces operating costs and offers time-on-wing improvements.

IAE is a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, the Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines.