Latest news with #BenoitdeSaint-Exupery
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Indian airline IndiGo orders 30 Airbus A350 widebody planes
Indian airline IndiGo said on Sunday it had signed an order for 30 more Airbus A350-900s, bringing its shopping list for the widebody aircraft from the European aircraft manufacturer to 60. "We are placing a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s," said Pieter Elbers, the CEO of IndiGo, which was founded in 2006 and is behind the largest contract by volume in the history of civil aviation -- 500 Airbus single-aisle aircraft by 2023. The low-cost carrier, India's biggest by market share, is positioning itself as a significant player in the long-haul market. "This strategic move will enable IndiGo to spread its wings further and expand its long-haul international network," the company said in a statement. "This is yet another step in defining the airline's long-term plans of international expansion." Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Airbus commercial aircraft vice-president of sales, hailed "IndiGo's incredible rise". "You have democratised flying in India, and now you want to expand internationally," he said. The A350 planes, with ranges of up to 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles), will allow it to expand its network further. Overall, IndiGo has placed orders for around 1,000 aircraft from the A320 family, Airbus's most successful model and rival of the Boeing 737 MAX, which has endured multiple setbacks after a series of safety scares. - 'Phenomenal' - Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which began its annual industry conference in New Delhi on Sunday, said "the development of India's air connectivity in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal". Indian domestic air growth is "running at over 10 percent" per year, Walsh said ahead of the conference. The growth of its economy has made India and its 1.4 billion people the world's fourth-largest air market -- domestic and international -- with IATA projecting it will become the third biggest within the decade. Air India, IndiGo's rival, ordered 100 more Airbus planes last year after a giant contract in 2023 for 470 aircraft -- 250 Airbus and 220 Boeing. India's domestic air passenger traffic reached a milestone last year by "surpassing 500,000 passengers in a single day", according to India's Ministry of Civil Aviation. The ministry boasts of a sector "experiencing a meteoric rise". Railways remain hugely popular but travelling by trains crisscrossing a country about three-quarters the area of the European Union is often slow and chaotic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will address IATA delegates on Monday, has made the development of the air sector a priority since coming to power in 2014. India has doubled its number of airports in the past decade to 157, with plans to have as many as 400 by 2047. Indian airline capacity is expected to reach 230 million seats in 2024, doubling since 2014, according to British aviation data provider OAG. However, such growth comes with immense demands for aircraft, skilled personnel, airports, and aviation safety. Some 10,000 pilots are expected to be trained in the next five years but India also faces a major challenge to supply flight crews, engineers, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. India already has the highest number of women pilots, who make up 15 percent of its captains, three times the global average. juf/tq/pjm/pbt
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudia Group orders 20 Airbus A330neo jets to fuel fleet expansion
RIYADH: Saudia Group has signed a new agreement with Airbus to acquire 20 wide-body A330neo aircraft, including 10 confirmed orders for its low-cost carrier flyadeal, as part of its fleet expansion strategy. The deal, finalized at Airbus's facility in Toulouse, France, reinforces the group's ambitions to enhance operational efficiency and expand destination coverage, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. With deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029, the acquisition marks a continuation of Saudia Group's broader modernization plan, which includes a 2023 order for 105 Airbus aircraft. A330neo's long-range capability and fuel efficiency are expected to play a central role in supporting the Kingdom's goals of connecting to 250 destinations and transporting 330 million passengers annually. The agreement aligns with the Kingdom's broader trend of making multiple Airbus aircraft purchases. In October, Riyadh Air signed a deal to purchase 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft. In July, the Royal Saudi Air Force signed a contract with Airbus for four additional A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft. The deal was signed by Saleh Eid, vice president Fleet Management and Agreements at Saudia Airlines, and Benoit de Saint-Exupery, executive vice president of Commercial Aircraft Sales at Airbus, in the presence of Ibrahim Al-Omar, director general of Saudia Group and Christian Scherer, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business of Airbus. Al-Omar emphasized the significance of the deal as a continuation of the group's ambitious strategy to expand and modernize its fleet. He noted that this agreement follows a previous order of 105 Airbus aircraft in 2023 and supports national strategies under Vision 2030 aimed at reaching 250 destinations, transporting 330 million passengers, and attracting 150 million tourists annually. Benoit de Saint-Exupery welcomed the order as a strategic advancement for both parties. 'Saudia Group's order for A330neo aircraft for flyadeal is a crucial step toward enabling the Kingdom's long-haul expansion and attracting a broader range of passengers,' he said. 'The aircraft's proven efficiency, versatility, and passenger experience make it the right fit for Saudia Group's strategic growth,' he added. Saudia Group currently operates a fleet of 194 aircraft across its commercial, low-cost, cargo, and logistics divisions. With an additional 191 aircraft expected to be delivered in the coming years, the group is advancing its position as a key enabler of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector and broader national development initiatives.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airbus better at managing supply chain disruption, senior exec says
STORY: Disruptions to the supply chain that are delaying aircraft deliveries are lessening and Airbus is getting much better at managing it. That's according to a senior company executive on Monday (Mar 31). The European planemaker, which delivered 766 jets last year, roughly in line with its target, has faced industrial delays. It's due in part to problems in the aerospace supply chain. Which has also hampered the recovery of embattled U.S. rival Boeing. Speaking to reporters in Taiwan, Airbus commercial aircraft executive vice president of sales Benoit de Saint-Exupery said it is taking a long time for the supply chain to get back on track. "We think that those disruptions are going to continue a little bit longer unfortunately but we have a much better handle (on it) and we are managing that supply chain with much more anticipation than before thanks to the learning we had during the pandemic." De Saint-Exupery was in Taiwan to sign an order with the island's larger carrier China Airlines for 10 Airbus A350-1000s. In December, China Airlines said it would split an order for its long-haul fleet renewal between Boeing and Airbus and buy freighters from the U.S. planemaker. The closely watched deal is worth almost $12 billion. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airbus getting better at managing supply chain disruptions, senior executive says
By Ben Blanchard TAOYUAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - Disruptions to the supply chain that are delaying aircraft deliveries are lessening and Airbus is getting much better at managing it, a senior company executive said on Monday. The European planemaker, which delivered 766 jets last year, roughly in line with its target, has been facing industrial delays due partly to problems in the aerospace supply chain, which have also hampered the recovery of embattled U.S. rival Boeing. Speaking to reporters in Taiwan, Airbus commercial aircraft executive vice president of sales Benoit de Saint-Exupery said it is taking a long time for the supply chain to get back on track, with a lot of disruptions in many suppliers. "We think that those disruptions are going to continue a little bit longer unfortunately but we have a much better handle (on it) and we are managing that supply chain with much more anticipation than before thanks to the learning we had during the pandemic," he said. "I view it as getting better but it will take a bit longer before it comes back to where it was before the pandemic."Right now the main bottlenecks are engines, he said, speaking at a hotel at Taiwan's main international airport in Taoyuan. "We're not getting the engines that we need to deliver the aircraft." De Saint-Exupery was in Taiwan to sign an order with the island's larger carrier China Airlines for 10 Airbus A350-1000s. In December, China Airlines said it would split an order for its long-haul fleet renewal between Boeing and Airbus and buy freighters from the U.S. planemaker in a closely watched deal worth almost $12 billion. China Airlines said it would buy 10 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and 10 Airbus A350-1000s as well as four 777-8 freighter aircraft for $11.9 billion at list prices, with deliveries for the new aircraft starting from 2029. "We were competing for the entire order but we knew it was going to be difficult," de Saint-Exupery told Reuters. "The airline is a (Boeing) 777-300 operator so their decision has some sense." China Airlines Chairman Kao Shing-hwang said the new A350s, which will complement its existing fleet of 15 the smaller A350-900 model, would enable the carrier to add capacity on popular long haul destinations like New York and London, adding passenger and freight demand were both strong at present. "I believe we'll get a great report card for both passengers and freight" this year, Kao added. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
31-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Airbus getting better at managing supply chain disruptions, senior executive says
TAOYUAN, Taiwan, March 31 (Reuters) - Disruptions to the supply chain that are delaying aircraft deliveries are lessening and Airbus ( opens new tab is getting much better at managing it, a senior company executive said on Monday. The European planemaker, which delivered 766 jets last year, roughly in line with its target, has been facing industrial delays due partly to problems in the aerospace supply chain, which have also hampered the recovery of embattled U.S. rival Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab. Speaking to reporters in Taiwan, Airbus commercial aircraft executive vice president of sales Benoit de Saint-Exupery said it is taking a long time for the supply chain to get back on track, with a lot of disruptions in many suppliers. "We think that those disruptions are going to continue a little bit longer unfortunately but we have a much better handle (on it) and we are managing that supply chain with much more anticipation than before thanks to the learning we had during the pandemic," he said. "I view it as getting better but it will take a bit longer before it comes back to where it was before the pandemic." Right now the main bottlenecks are engines, he said, speaking at a hotel at Taiwan's main international airport in Taoyuan. "We're not getting the engines that we need to deliver the aircraft." De Saint-Exupery was in Taiwan to sign an order with the island's larger carrier China Airlines ( opens new tab for 10 Airbus A350-1000s. In December, China Airlines said it would split an order for its long-haul fleet renewal between Boeing and Airbus and buy freighters from the U.S. planemaker in a closely watched deal worth almost $12 billion. China Airlines said it would buy 10 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and 10 Airbus A350-1000s as well as four 777-8 freighter aircraft for $11.9 billion at list prices, with deliveries for the new aircraft starting from 2029. "We were competing for the entire order but we knew it was going to be difficult," de Saint-Exupery told Reuters. "The airline is a (Boeing) 777-300 operator so their decision has some sense." China Airlines Chairman Kao Shing-hwang said the new A350s, which will complement its existing fleet of 15 the smaller A350-900 model, would enable the carrier to add capacity on popular long haul destinations like New York and London, adding passenger and freight demand were both strong at present. "I believe we'll get a great report card for both passengers and freight" this year, Kao added.
