Embraer says India may buy $ 4 billion of small planes

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Airlines in India may buy four billion dollars worth of small planes in the next 20 years to meet rising demand for air travel, according to Brazilian manufacturer Embraer.

India's carriers may need to buy 165 planes between 2006 and 2025, Mr J. Bruce Peddle, managing director for Embraer's Asia Pacific region, said in an interview.

''India is emerging as one of the most important aviation markets in Asia,'' he said. ''There are a lot of smaller cities in India that need greater connectivity for which smaller planes -- and not full-sized aircraft -- are better suited.'' Nearly 80 per cent of domestic flights depart with less than 80 passengers on board. And about 78 per cent of airports across the country handle less than 500 passengers per day, with the top five representing 67.6 per cent of total traffic.

The government says a total of 40 million domestic passenger movements were recorded last year. The traffic is rising rapidly as low-cost carriers are luring some 15 million daily passengers to shun trains.

Of the total 191 aircraft in the country, Mr Peddle said, 72 per cent are narrow-bodied, 18 per cent turboprops and 10 per cent 30 to 120 seater jets.

Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA is the world's fourth biggest aircraft maker. It makes aircraft that can carry less than 120 people.

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