'Weakness of Air India supported survival of airlines around India'

Airlines domiciled around India have survived due to Air India's weakness, but the carrier now has an opportunity to reclaim the market from them and transform the country into a hub for travellers, said the airline's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson.

- DEEPAK PATEL

"India, as a country, had 43 wide-body aircraft at the time of Air India's privatisation, while Dubai had 250, Singapore had 150, and Qatar had 175. That highlights the subscale nature of Air India and the opportunity it has to grow," Wilson said in his speech at the 45th anniversary celebrations of the chartered accountancy firm PKF Sridhar & Santhanam on Monday night.

Airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines serve substantial international traffic to and from India via their hubs in the region.

Wide-body aircraft such as the B787 and A350 have larger fuel tanks, facilitating long-haul flights. After a competitive bidding process, Air India was sold to Tata Group in January 2022.