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SOURCE: AFI

Rishav Gupta @connect_rishav

A recent revelation by Twitter user Rishav Gupta has shed light on a little-known joint venture between India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and China’s Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) in the mid-1990s. The two companies had teamed up to co-develop a 100-seater regional airliner, dubbed the “Asian Express.”

The project, which also involved South Korea and later Airbus, aimed to create a competitive regional aircraft to cater to the growing demand for air travel in Asia. However, despite initial enthusiasm, the project was ultimately shelved due to a lack of market demand.

According to Gupta’s findings, HAL’s involvement in the Asian Express project was short-lived. While the company joined the venture in the mid-1990s, it was reportedly “terminated/removed” from the program around 1996. Airbus, which joined the project later, took over the design responsibilities.

Despite the efforts of the consortium, a detailed market study conducted in 1998 revealed that there was insufficient demand for regional aircraft in the airline industry at the time. As a result, the Asian Express project was abandoned, leading to significant financial losses for AVIC, which reportedly incurred costs of around $100 million.

While the Asian Express project did not materialize, Airbus went on to develop the A318, a similar-sized regional aircraft based on the A320 platform. However, the A318 also failed to gain significant traction in the market and was eventually discontinued.

The revelation of the Asian Express project offers a glimpse into the history of aviation collaboration between India, China, and other countries. While the project ultimately did not succeed, it highlights the challenges and complexities involved in developing new aircraft and the importance of market research in the aviation industry.