India’s Bizjet Fleet Growing at Breakneck Pace

There were 136 private jets registered in India as of mid-March, according to new data published by the Firestone Management Group. Over the past 36 months, no fewer than 43 aircraft have been delivered to customers in India, representing a growth rate of 46 percent. Nearly 70 percent of India’s business jets are less than 10 years old, representing 95 of the total. According to Firestone, which helps companies to break into key Asian emerging markets for business aviation, Hawker Beechcraft currently leads the Indian market, having delivered 35 aircraft to achieve a 26-percent share. Cessna follows with 31 aircraft and 22 percent, and then Bombardier (24 jets/18 percent), Dassault Falcon (17 jets/13 percent), Gulfstream (15 jets/11 percent) and Embraer at 7 percent with nine jets, leaving the remainder to Boeing and Airbus. “The growth opportunity for private jet manufacturers to deliver their products in India is tremendous,” said managing director Justin Firestone. “As the world’s largest democracy, the second most populous country and one of the fastest growing major economies, [India] is clearly embracing the need for safe and efficient business jet travel.”