Air India plans for rapid growth post-privatisation

Air India has prepared plans to increase its fleet to over 250 aircraft over the next 5 years although that will depend on the outcome of its privatisation process. The airline's GM commercial Purnima Nerukar says that the airline has not taken on any additional aircraft in the past 2 years but will inevitably have to grow the fleet to keep up with demand. "Though we have an expansion plan ready, we do have a plan up to 2025, but with the govt's privatisation process already begun, we have kept our expansion plans on hold," she says. By comparison, Cirium fleets data show that Air India has 127 aircraft in its fleet, of which 12 are listed as in storage. A high-level cabinet committee is overseeing the planned privatisation of the carrier and is expected to open expressions of interest before the end of the year. <br/>