National

Boeing figures in Blackwill's talks with Shahnawaz

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI MAY 15. The Seattle-based Boeing Company figured in the talks between the U.S. Ambassador, Robert Blackwill and the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Shahnawaz Hussain, when the former called on the latter here today.

The Boeing Company had recently lost out to Europe-based Airbus Industrie, when the Indian Airlines last month announced its decision to purchase 43 Airbus aircraft at a cost of Rs. 10089 crore to augment its fleet over next five years. The decision now awaits Government nod. According to sources, the file is "being processed'' in the Ministry.

Another American firm, Raytheon, is also in the reckoning, along with a French firm, Alcatel, for providing India with satellite-based air traffic system at an estimated cost of Rs. 500 crore. The U.S. Embassy officials had earlier this month participated in a Raytheon presentation for the Airports Authority of India on the system. Air India is also in the process of taking a decision on purchase of aircraft to replenish its fleet.

During Mr. Blackwill's courtesy call lasting nearly 40 minutes, a lot of issues relating to civil aviation including review of bi-lateral air services agreement, security, the terrorist killings in Jammu on Tuesday, as well as Indian carriers' (Air India and Indian Airlines) plans to purchase aircraft were discussed.

The bi-lateral talks between the two countries would likely be resumed in June, Mr. Hussain said. The negotiations will take into account security concerns of both the nations in the wake of September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York in which civil airplanes were used as weapons.

The US carriers — American Airlines and United Airlines — had pulled out of India after the slowdown in the aviation industry following the September 11 events. As such, the bilateral rights between the two countries were not being utilised, creating a shortfall in capacity on this sector.

Mr Blackwill appreciated the civil aviation security in India and said there was scope for cooperation in this area. "We already have an extensive cooperation, which we wish to extend even further on security aspects associated with airlines,'' the U.S. envoy said.

Mr. Hussain said that the global recession had started showing signs of improvement. The U.S. carriers which had stopped operations had again shown interest in flying from India.

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