Air India to receive seven 787 Dreamliners till March 2012
24 Aug 2011
Mumbai: Air India will take delivery of the first seven of 27 787 Dreamliner airliners ordered from Boeing Co in the period between November of this year and March of next. According to a report, which quotes unnamed AI officials, another seven of these futuristic aircraft will be delivered in stages up to 2014, and the balance 13 after 2014.
India's flag carrier intends to deploy these fuel-efficient airliners to on its international routes. AI will be the second airliner, after launch customer, Japan's ANA, to take delivery of these aircraft.
The carrier expects a substantial boost in cost effectiveness and image makeover with the induction of these aircraft.
It is likely that the later phases of delivery of the 787s may be quickened with Boeing trying to increase production of the Dreamliner. AI officials were at pains to stress that no specific delivery dates had been provided by the manufacturer.
The Dreamliners are part of a huge package of 111 planes ordered by Air India in 2005 from Boeing and Airbus for a staggering $15 billion.
Dinesh Keskar, Boeing India president, has affirmed that the company was on track to deliver the first 787 to Air India sometime during October-December, without being specific about the delivery schedule.
