CARGOCONNECT-OCTOBER2024 - Flipbook - Page 58
ALEXIS VIDAL |
SVP and Chief Commercial Officer, ATR
We are keen to explore opportunities
in India’s expanding air freight sector
World’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer, ATR, is bullish on
India’s aviation growth, as detailed by Alexis Vidal, SVP and Chief
Commercial Officer, in a recent discussion with UPAMANYU BORAH.
On the sidelines of a recent industry event, Vidal highlighted India’s
significant role as a rapidly growing hub for regional air mobility, with
the turboprop aircraft manufacturer’s 25-year presence underpinning
its commitment to expanding both passenger and freight services.
He discussed the potential for increasing ATR’s fleet in India, including adapting aircraft for regional air cargo as well as exploring hybrid
propulsion technologies. Emphasising the importance of aligning
with market needs and forging strategic partnerships, Vidal outlined
ATR’s efforts to enhance its offerings and support India’s evolving
aviation landscape while addressing global sustainability goals.
He also noted the need for strong partnerships to support India’s
burgeoning aviation ecosystem and drive future growth.
W
hat are some of the inherent opportunities you see
for the aviation sector at large and how do you plan
to expand and rede昀椀ne value while simultaneously
enabling your services and your customers’ services
to 昀氀ourish?
India represents one of our key markets and is among the fastest-growing
regions for regional air mobility. With 25 years of presence in India,
we are committed to being a part of the aviation industry’s growth for
the next 25 years at least. Currently, we operate 67 aircraft in India,
and we see potential for an additional 200 aircraft in the regional air
mobility sector.
This potential is particularly evident in the passenger transportation
sector, which is well-supported by policy initiatives and the Regional
Connectivity Scheme (RCS UDAN). This support gives us strong
con昀椀dence in ATR’s ability to tap into this market. Additionally, there
are emerging opportunities in the freight sector. Our regional aircraft,
capable of handling up to 9 tonnes of payload, o昀昀er promising prospects
for India. We are evaluating these opportunities and considering how
our freighter aircraft might 昀椀t into the Indian market.
Considering India as a hub for pharma production and the next
global base for the manufacturing industry, where do you believe
lays the biggest potentials for growth to sprout?
As India increases its production and local movement of goods, there
will be a corresponding rise in demand for freight transportation,
encompassing both business-to-business and business-to-consumer
segments. This growth will drive e-commerce, highlighting the need for
appropriately sized aircraft that can e昀케ciently provide point-to-point
connectivity for both e-commerce and business transactions. The
location of manufacturing plants will further in昀氀uence this demand.
58 | CARGOCONNECT OCTOBER 2024
