‘India Is Our Most Relevant Asian Country’

Centre For Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) MD, Peter Harbison tells Bhisham Mansukhani why he believes that Indian aviation and his organisation's relationship with the sector can only get better now

What do you make of the response to CAPA' first investment summit in India?

It is always tricky since it is the first time, yet given the excellent presentations and some very good dialogue within the forum and also on the sidelines, it's an indication of the long-term relationship we're set to have with this market. Apart from the Middle East, India is perhaps our most important market right now.

Do you think the timing of the summit in a way cinched its success?

I think the timing of the summit has been unanimously welcomed as appropriate - an almost uncanny coincidence - on the heels of the Paris Air Show that saw Indian carriers take centre-stage. The timing is right on two fronts. There is quantum growth and it just keeps coming while on the flip side, the capacity of the existing infrastructure to deal with this growth is questionable, partly because the domestic aviation curve has been flat for the last twenty years. The objective of the summit was to highlight the growth that is unfolding as we speak while also underlining a reassurance to investors that India is ready to receive them while at the same time, addressing some key concerns with regard to infrastructure and availability of pilots, maintenance engineers and on board and ground staff.

Has any particular concern caught your attention in the course of the summit?

Remarks by the minister of civil aviation, Praful Patel, during the convention with regard to private airlines recognising their responsibility towards a greater national cause could create conjecture among investors as to what this `responsibility' could entail in so much as route allocation and tax remittance to the government. Transparency on such issues is vital.

Are a lot of Indian carriers availing your services? Will you be holding the investment summit and similar conventions in India in the future?

We have so far serviced one start-up with a business plan. I cannot however reveal which airline that maybe. A Low Cost Airline Symposium would be held in Mumbai from October here again while the investment summit will probably be held on a biannual basis, alternating with the Middle-East.