Wadia Group-owned GoAir announced today that it has placed an order for 72 Airbus A320 aircraft worth USD 7.2 billion. The Low Cost Carrier (LCC) had previously ordered 20 Airbus A320s, bringing GoAir's total order with Airbus to 92 aircraft worth USD 9.6 billion. The airline also announced the appointment of Giorgio De Roni as Chief Executive Officer of GoAir. Roni was formerly Chief Revenue Officer at Italian airline, Air One, which recently merged with Alitalia. Roni has replaced Kaushik Khona as CEO.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir said, “As part of our Vision 2020, we have placed the order with Airbus. These are all firm orders and deliveries will start by 2015. We will receive as many as 15 aircraft each year. We see tremendous potential in the Indian aviation sector which has barely six airlines with 350 aircraft catering to a billion people, compared to China's present 1100 aircraft. With all the current orders placed by Indian carriers, we will only reach 1100 aircraft by 2020." |