Indian charter and management company Taj Airhas become the exclusive distributor of the Piaggio P180 Avanti II for Bhutan, India, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Mumbai-based Taj Air - a subsidiary of Tata, which is buying a roughly one-third share in Piaggio Aero Industries - will be responsible for promoting, selling, distributing and maintaining the twin-engined turboprop across the region.
The first two Indian-based Avantis - one new and an one used - are scheduled for delivery to two private customers in November, says Taj Air chairman Mehernosh Kapadia. "We will take delivery of our first aircraft in February next year," he says. Taj Air, which operates two Dassault Falcon 2000s and manages a further four of the large-cabin types, expects a strong market for the Avanti II from businesses and private individuals looking for cost-efficient, short-distance travel.
"We are already finalising deals on three more aircraft and expect to secure additional sales in the coming months," says Kapadia. Indian certification of the seven-seat Avanti II is scheduled for October.
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Source: Flight International
