The Hindu Business Line : AI to consider leasing more MCLR aircraft to expand operations

WITH competition hotting up in the civil aviation sector, the national carrier, Air India, has drawn up major expansion plans for which it would take on lease more aircraft of the medium capacity long range (MCLR) variety.

An empowered committee of the airline is to meet early next week to take a view on leasing of more MCLR variety of aircraft, senior officials told Business Line.

Among the new routes being planned by AI is a thrice-a-week connection on the Delhi-Dhaka-Kolkata-London sector.

This flight, expected to become operational by the middle of May, will carry a different flight number on each sector and will be using a Boeing 777 aircraft.

This new connection will offer the people of the eastern region six-times-a-week direct connection from Kolkata to London.

Currently, British Airways operates thrice-a-week non-stop service between Kolkata and London.

Other plans of Air India include the launch of a new flight to Los Angeles from Delhi on March 28 and more services to France and onwards from there to the US soon.

In the recent past, the airline has been looking at the leasing option to expand its global route network. AI had recently leased three Airbus A-310 and a Boeing 747 combi aircraft.

Besides, it has also signed for leasing four more Boeing 737-800 aircraft for its subsidiary, AI Express Ltd. The new airline will take to the skies on April 29 and offer low-cost flights between India and the Gulf in the initial stages of its operations.

AI is looking at leasing aircraft as a stopgap arrangement till such time as the airlines' fleet acquisition plan is cleared and the new aircraft start arriving.

Besides, AI is also looking at developing arrangements similar to kind that it has with the German airline, Lufthansa to extend its reach in the global market place. Since October last year, when a strategic alliance agreement was signed between the two airlines, Air India has become the new partner of Lufthansa.

The objective of the partnership is to not only see an expansion in the flights on offer between Germany and India, but also add new routes.

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