Boeing to pay AI just $145mn, against $710mn, for Dreamliner delays
17 Mar 2010
New Delhi: The world's second largest commercial air frame-maker, Boeing, will pay $145-million (Rs660-crore) to Air India holding company, the National Aviation Company Ltd (NACIL) by way of compensation for delay in deliveries of the Dreamliner B787-800. The airliner had sought damages of $710 million (Rs3,233 crore) from Boeing.
Though senior Air India officials confirmed the development, it is yet not clear of this is full and final payment or payment in part. AI officials said they will receive the money next year.
''The deliveries of Dreamliner 787 should have been complete by now. But, it got delayed completely and we have slapped a compensation claim of $710 million. They have confirmed $145 million they will pay as compensation for the delay and so we have tried to push the entire delivery...,'' Air India chairman and managing director, Arvind Jadhav, was quoted in a recently-released parliamentary committee report.
Boeing officials are yet to confirm the development.
NACIL is the holding company for the merged carriers Air India and Indian Airlines. Together both carriers ordered a total of 111 aircraft in 2004 - 68 from Boeing and 43 from Airbus.
The Boeing order included 27 B787-800 Dreamliners, the first of which was to be delivered in May 2008.
As per a reworked a schedule, first deliveries to Air India are likely to be made only in April next year. Of the 27 Dreamliners, 15 aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2011, and an additional two in 2012.
The remaining ten would be delivered between July 2013 and September 2014.
