Reliance, Antonov sign aircraft JV

The world’s largest aircraft, Antonov AN-225 Mriya, is seen parked on the tarmac at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Friday. The plane arrived in the city at 11.30 pm . (Photo: Asian Age)

The world’s largest cargo aircraft Antonov AN-225 Mriya made its first landing in India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad at 11.30 pm on Thursday. It will go to Perth via Jakarta at around midnight on Friday.

The aircraft was not made available for public viewing, prompting Ukraine Ambassador Dr Igor Polikha to say that people had missed a rare opportunity. He said arrangements had been made in Perth for over 50,000 people to view the aircraft.

He was speaking at a joint media conference organised by Reliance Defence, in coordination with GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited and Antonov of Ukraine.

The Reliance Group will build transport aircraft for military and civil use in India in association with the Ukraine-based Antonov.

Reliance Defence aerospace business president, Air Marshal M. Matheswaran (retd) said that according to a market survey conducted five years back, there was a potential to sell about 200 passenger aircraft in India.

He said the company was positive towards coming to Hyderabad as the city was developing as a hub of aerospace, aviation and its allied industry.

“There is a need for 60-90 seater passenger aircraft with the increase in air traffic potential in tier-II and tier-III cities. The intention of the Reliance Defence is to utilise the Make in India offer and bring into the country the best passenger and defence version aircraft at competitive prices.”

GHAIL chief executive officer S.G.K. Kishore said the landing of the gigantic aircraft was testimony to the infrastructure at the airport.