The Hindu Business Line : Air India's non-stop option

THE successful completion last week of the longest non-stop flight by a commercial aircraft augurs well for Air India which is planning to offer non-stop services from India to various cities around the globe.

A Boeing B 777-200 Long Range Worldliner took off from Hong Kong on November 9 and flew non-stop to London covering 21,601 kilometres in 22 hours and 42 minutes.

For AI, this could be good news. In April this year, the airline Board approved the purchase of this type of aircraft. For AI, this proposal forms part of a larger one to acquire two other kinds of Boeing aircraft.

In the deal, valued at close to Rs 30,000 crore, the airline plans to purchase eight Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft for launching non-stop flights from India to various parts of the world including to the US.

In AI colours, aircraft is likely to offer seating in three classes — first, business and economy.

Depending on the interiors that the airline decides, the aircraft should be able to accommodate 250-260 passengers and carry about 20 tonnes of cargo on a non-stop flight between India and the US, industry sources estimate.

The induction of the new aircraft should help AI extend its global network. The airline has indicated that it is keen to expand its services to Australia, the US, Europe and Africa, all of which would be within easy reach of this aircraft.

"The aircraft will open up many non-stop routes for AI, including Delhi-Los Angeles and Mumbai-Houston. These are just some of the various opportunities that will unfold," the Senior Vice-President, Boeing, Dr Dinesh Keskar said. Officials have indicated that the aircraft should be able to fly non-stop from anywhere in India to New York and Chicago, among other cities.

The aircraft flew non-stop between Mumbai and San Francisco in August last taking 16 hours and 20 minutes giving an indication of the range that it is capable of flying from India.

That the aircraft has an extremely efficient fuel burn and superior capability to carry a full complement of passenger and cargo in both directions on the US-India route has become evident after the recent world-breaking flight, industry analysts feel.

Besides, with the Boeing 777-200 LR having the capability of flying either on the conventional route between India and the US or over the Pole, AI could decide on the route it would prefer depending on the wind conditions, industry sources said.

At the moment, officials are tight-lipped about when the B777-200 LR will join the AI fleet, although the first of the aircraft will be delivered to Pakistan International Airlines early next year. "We are looking for the Boeing 777-200 LR joining the fleet in early 2007," sources said.

The exact delivery dates for the new aircraft are likely to become clear after AI and Boeing sign a purchase agreement. At the moment, the airline is still waiting for the Government's nod to sign the deal with Boeing for purchase of the aircraft.

AI may also have little problem in training pilots to fly the B777-200LR. "AI already operates the B 777-200 ER. A pilot operating these existing aircraft in the AI fleet can easily operate the B777-200 LR aircraft also," a senior Boeing official said.

The induction of the new aircraft should offer more choices for the Indian passenger. At present, while Continental Airlines has started daily non-stop services between Delhi and New York, American Airlines will begin a non-stop service between Delhi and Chicago later this month.

Similarly for travel to Australia, passengers can either opt for the Australian airline Qantas flight from Mumbai or travel through a point in South-East Asia or through Dubai.

With the induction of the Boeing 777-200 LR by AI not too far away, more options will open up for the Indian traveller to not only cities in the US but also other far-flung areas around the globe.

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