Bombardier Inc. expects Indias airport expansion to create opportunities for increased business jet sales, the companys chief executive said in remarks to reporters on Thursday.
Eric Martel told reporters that roughly 60 Bombardier jets are currently in operation across India, and that the company has faced headwinds in the market due to constrained infrastructure. Those capacity limitations have, in Martels account, been a barrier to broader fleet growth for the business jet maker.
Martel highlighted a wave of airport construction underway in India, noting that about a dozen airports are currently being built. He said the nations planned infrastructure spending over the coming years should create growth avenues for Bombardier as aviation facilities are upgraded and expanded.
The CEO framed the situation as a straightforward link between airport capability and demand for business jets: improvements to runways, terminals and supporting services can enable greater use of such aircraft and ease market entry for manufacturers seeking to sell and support aircraft in the region.
While Martels comments centered on the potential created by Indias airport projects, he also acknowledged the current constraint of limited infrastructure as a factor that has so far restricted Bombardiers ability to grow its installed base in the country.
Taken together, the remarks underline how national investments in aviation facilities could alter the operating environment for business jet makers, creating room for fleet expansion if planned works proceed and support increased operations.
Context and implications
- Bombardier currently operates about 60 jets in India, according to CEO Eric Martel.
- Approximately a dozen Indian airports are under construction, forming part of broader infrastructure spending planned over the coming years.
- Improved aviation infrastructure could enable business jet manufacturers to expand their presence in the Indian market.