Indian Aviation Recovers After Global Economic Downturn

January 28, 2011

An IndiGo aircraft stands parked at Chhatrapati Shivaji airport in Mumbai, India, January 12, 2011

As air passenger traffic dropped by 30 per cent in 2009, many Indian domestic carriers put expansion plans on hold and slashed staff salaries. Cash-strapped airlines even asked for a government bailout.

But in the past year, the aviation industry has recovered from the crisis triggered by the global financial downturn. As the economy returns to a high growth path, flights are again filling with passengers, and domestic carriers are posting profits.

The first concrete signal that the industry is back on its feet came in early January, when private carrier IndiGo placed a $15 billion order for 180 aircraft with Airbus. It is the largest single order of Airbus planes and is expected to be delivered between 2016 and 2025.

Besides IndiGo, other airlines also plan to buy new planes to cope with growing demand.

Aviation experts say the orders are an indication of the potential growth of the industry.

Sanat Kaul is chairman of the International Foundation for Aviation and Development in India and a former top official in the aviation ministry. He says if fares remain competitive, low-cost airlines will entice millions of rail passengers to switch to air travel.

"There are all the signs that there will be very high growth in passenger traffic,” Kaul said. “Slowly, slowly as people get addicted to flying, they will slowly and slowly not take railways for long journeys."