The Hindu Business Line : AI finalises seat supply deal for Dreamliner

New Delhi May 6 An eminent panel, which included noted banker Mr N. Vaghul; the former UN Under-Secretary General, Mr Shashi Tharoor; the Indian Envoy in the US, Mr Ronen Sen; and some prominent NRIs, has made its choice about the seating comfort that Air India passengers would enjoy on board the Boeing 787 aircraft.

Now the Maharaja is to sign a $48.5-million deal jointly with the UK-based Contour group and the US-based Webber group for supply of seats for the 27 such aircraft it is to purchase.

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"Air India has decided to source the executive class seats from Contour, while the economy class seats will be sourced from Webber. The executive class seats will turn into horizontal flat beds. The seats are electronically activated and can be converted into a cradle, flat bed or be positioned in a fully upright position. Similarly, the economy class seats will have a variety of options including providing audio, video on demand," sources told Business Line.

Earlier this year, the panel had visited the US to check out the seating comforts for the airline passengers when they fly the aircraft popularly known as the `Dreamliner.' During the visit, the team had evaluated a variety of seats for comfort, seat pitch and value-added facilities on offer.

The selected companies have already supplied seats to several leading airlines. The Contour group has been involved with the British Airways first and business class lie-flat products and also American Airline's swivel seats.

Air India is to receive the first Boeing 787 aircraft in 2008 with the last delivery scheduled for 2011. The airline plans to seat 250 passengers in a two-class configuration. Air India plans to utilise these aircraft to operate non-stop flights between India and the US, Australia and other long haul destinations around the globe.