Praful for bigger fleet, seeks PM help for funds

“Considering the kind of growth being seen in the aviation sector, we will have to revisit our fleet requirements soon,” he said at a function to induct five aircraft, including two cargo planes, into the fleet of Air-India and ‘Indian’.

The function also marked the launch of freight services by the two carriers.

The Civil Aviation Ministry would soon submit a proposal for sanction of funds for acquiring more aircraft, Patel said.

Air-India chairman and managing director V Thulasidas said the two airlines, who have announced their merger, were looking at buying another 60 planes of different sizes.

Speaking earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was the chief guest at the function, urged the two airlines to set world-class standards in civil aviation.

“There was a time when Air-India was regarded as one of the world’s best airlines. I am sure that Air-India will once again regain that reputation. That should be our common ambition, that should be our common aim,” the Prime Minister said.

“Your business is not just about getting world-class aircraft, but also about ensuring that world- class service levels become the norm. Given our tradition of hospitality we in India should be at the forefront of growth of such service industries as civil aviation,” he said.

The five airplanes inducted into the fleet include two Boeing 777-200, which will run non-stop on the Mumbai-New York and Delhi-New York sectors.

The Mumbai-New York flight will begin in August while the one on Delhi-New York sector will start operations by the end of this year, Thulasidas said.