"Air India will need nine new generation aircrafts, based on the assumption that the state-run airline maintains a constant market share", Dr Kiran Rao, vice-president sales (Africa and India), Airbus Industrie said.

"We estimate that in order to regain its rightful 50 per cent share of the traffic on international routes, despite slot restrictions at many of the airports involved, Air India could need as many as 18 A380s by 2019", he added.

He said four single-aisle aircraft - A318, A319, A320 and A321 - have been offered to Indian Airlines to replace the Boeing 737s and A300s. The 100-seater A318 and A319 are replacement for the Boeings and 180-seater A321 for the A300 and A320 as expansion of the present fleet. Dr Rao said that the Indian Air Force has expressed an interest in replacing its ageing 737s, with the twin-engined corporate jet, which has a range of 5,000 nautical miles.

Airbus vice-president (market forecasts) Adam Brown said India's major carriers, would need to buy 222 aircraft worth over $17.5 billion by 2019 to replace ageing aircraft and to provide for growth.

The 222 aircraft comprise 124 to meet growth in passenger traffic, plus 98 to replace ageing ones currently in service. They comprise 131 single-aisle aircraft and the rest are wide-bodied planes.

Airbus Industrie's forecast is based on growth projections for airlines serving India. It predicts an average growth of 5.4 per cent a year in traffic, carried by major airlines based in India (average worldwide growth is expected to be at almost five per cent a year).