Chennai, Aug 09: Both Air India and Indian Airlines will acquire a total of 78 aircraft at a total cost of around Rs 30,000 crore. The aircraft would be added to the fleet strength 18 months after cabinet clearance, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said today. Air India had already completed the techno-economic feasibility studies. While 18 aircraft would be for short haul, 17 would be long-haul aircraft. 43 aircraft would be added to the fleet of Indian Airlines, he told a press meet at Meenambakkam airport after an hour-long discussion with officials and organisations relating to civil aviation industry including private parties.
Rudy, who is in Chennai on his first visit after taking over as minister, said the main thrust of today's discussions centred around making passenger service affordable.

The Ramesh Chandra Committee had made recommendations to evolve a Civil Aviation Policy with the basic thrust of making aviation affordable, building up fair competition in the domestic industry, rationalisation of tax structure to make it internationally competitive and creation of world-class facilities.
The policy draft was already in circulation and the new policy would be announced by October next after incorporating the recommendations.
The National Council for Applied Economics and Research, had been asked to submit a paper for making aviation affordable in the country, he said.
Bureau Report