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Indian budget carrier GoAir has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European airframer Airbus to purchase another 72 A320neo aircraft. This effectively doubles GoAir’s A320neo existing 72 plane order, placed in 2011, to 144.
GoAir is the third operator of the new aircraft, globally, after Germany’s Lufthansa, and India’s IndiGo. It has taken delivery of two A320neos as of date.
While engine selection is not immediately known, but there are indications the airline will continue to choose the Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) engine. Original launch customer Qatar Airways has refused to take delivery of A320neos citing technical problems with the engine. However, GoAir’s CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer indicated the airline is “very happy” with the GTF engine. “It is performing as per our expectations” he said.
Analysis
From one perspective, it is heartening to see another airline follow the same ‘big order’ approach as domestic leader IndiGo. Surely GoAir got favourable prices and also gets ahead in the delivery queue. After years of caution, it is also heartening to see GoAir become aggressive on its expansion. Their planned international destinations like Iran, CIS countries, etc., shows we can expect the same maverick thinking on international routes, as on their domestic. On the long term the fuel efficient neos will gain in value and deliver increased savings as oil prices increase.
However, on the flip side, it appears that Indian carriers are betting big on the expected growth of the Indian air travel market. They are scrambling over themselves to grab their share of the expected pie. IndiGo has 430 aircraft on order, now GoAir. Spicejet has 42 Boeing 737 MAX and is reportedly mulling another order. Jet Airways, Air India, Tata-SIA Vistara, and AirAsia India have yet to announce their fleet plans, but expect some fireworks.
Eight years on, these airlines seem to have forgotten the twin shocks of the 2008 global meltdown which almost saw the demise of the Indian airline industry. India is an extremely price sensitive market, and GDP growth will not remain high, nor will oil remain low. As in 2008, the moment these crucial factors change, passenger demand will plummet. We cannot even imagine the bloodbath thanks to the extreme overcapacity.
Buying of A320 neos is welcome step. There are lot of routes where Indigo has almost monopoly & hence charges much more than required. More capacity addition by other airlines will be useful for flyers.
And OTP should be improved by GoAir. Mostly running late.