Date:14/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/14/stories/2007111459030100.htm

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Hyderabad to host ‘India Aviation 2008’

K. Srinivas Reddy

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad will have another feather in its cap next year when it will host the first international exhibition on civil aviation sector, ‘India Aviation 2008’ in October next.

Begumpet airport, with all the operations shifted to the new international airport in Shamshabad by mid-March, will be the venue for the biennial air show to be conducted on the lines of Defence Air Show of Bangalore.

Business platform

The four-day event beginning October 15, 2008 would provide a perfect business platform for aviation companies to leverage on the booming Indian aviation sector, Arun Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation said over telephone from Dubai.

Mr. Mishra announced Hyderabad as the host during the ongoing Dubai Air Show 2007.

“Hyderabad is well connected to all international destinations, has a strong presence of IT companies and many star hotels,” said a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the joint organisers of India Aviation 2008.

Overseas partners for the event would be Farnborough International Limited of UK.

The exhibitors’ profile includes aircraft, aircraft machinery and equipment.

It also includes aircraft interior, airlines, airline services and air cargo, education, training and skill development, airport infrastructure and airport city side developers.

Boom in sector

India is witnessing a boom in aviation sector with the passenger traffic growing by 27.2 per cent and the cargo traffic by 11.2 per cent during 2006-07.

Aircraft movement increased by 27.5 per cent. “The domestic traffic is expected to grow up to 180 million and international traffic to 50 million passengers by 2020,” said Mr. Mishra.

India with 250 aircraft has the prospect to buy 500 civilian aircraft by 2020. This could reach to 1,000 when the current fleet is replaced.

“These projections indicate a business opportunity of US $80 billion for companies involved in aircraft manufacture, machinery, maintenance, etc.” he added.