The Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, the United States based business aircraft maker, is vying to consolidate its already dominant position in the business jet market in India — the biggest in Asia.
“A private jet is a business tool for corporate houses and helps drive the economy. We believe that Indian corporate houses are no different from those in the United States and Europe. Indian corporate houses also want to expand their businesses across the world,” Mr Roger Sperry, regional senior vice-president for international sales, told a group of journalists on Tuesday, while explaining his company’s optimism for sales in the second fastest growing economy in the world.
With 142 private jets, the Indian private jet market constitutes 12 per cent of the global market, which is bigger than that of 93 biz jets in China and 76 in Japan. Of 84 large and mid- sized business jets in the country, 20 aircraft were manufactured by Gulfstream. Globally, it commands a 48 per cent of the market share of large cabin business jets.
The aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Virginia, sells seven business jets, from the mid-sized G150 to the large-sized G650 jet. The price ranges from $15.5 million for the G150 to $65.5 million for the G650.
With just three days to go for the Union Budget, Mr Sperry said that the private business jet makers wish that more departure and arrivals slots are created for business jets at major airports. “The whole concept of business jets is to provide flexibility of arrival and departure. But if slots are not available at the airport, the purpose is defeated,” he added.