Airbus expects India to buy 222 jets

European aircraft maker Airbus said on Monday it expected India to buy about 222 aircraft over the next 15 years, and hoped to sell about half of them, including a current 43-jet deal.

Airbus estimates India’s demand for 222 jets until 2019 to be worth $17.5 billion said spokesman for Airbus David Velupillai which is 80 per cent owned by EADS. French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin is expected to persuade Indian government officials this week to help Airbus get approval to sell 43 A320s worth $2.0 billion to state-controlled Indian Airlines, whose board selected Airbus last March. Raffarin is due to visit India this week to attend the Aero India show in Bangalore. ‘‘Hopefully, in the coming days and weeks, we’ll find approval from the government,’’ Velupillai said.