The Hindu Business Line : Air India mulls buying more aircraft

Seattle, July 27 Air India is examining the option of purchasing more aircraft to meet its growing requirements, the airline’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Thulasidas, said here.

“The airline requires some more wide-body and also some single-aisle aircraft. We are growing and require these aircraft to meet our needs. At the moment we do not have any fixed numbers although we could be looking at acquiring something like 30 wide-body aircraft over the next 3-4 years. We will also need some aircraft for Indian. A joint proposal will eventually be put before the Government,” Mr Thulasidas said.

In late 2005, Air India had agreed to purchase 68 Boeing aircraft in a deal valued at more than Rs 30,000 crore.

The Air India Chairman was speaking to the media on the eve of the delivery of the first wide body aircraft, a Boeing 777-200 LongRange (LR) aircraft that would be deployed to operate non-stop flights between Mumbai and New York from August 1. This aircraft is apart of the Rs 30,000-crore order.

New routes in offing

Air India is to take delivery of eight Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft that would primarily be deployed to launch non-stop flights between India and the US.

“From January next year, we will also be offering a non-stop service between Delhi and New York. We are also examining the option of either launching a service from Mumbai to Chicago or operating a non-stop flight between Bangalore and San Francisco with this aircraft,” Mr Thulasidas said.

The airline has decided to mount additional fuel tanks on the last two Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft that it would take delivery, which would allow them to fly non-stop between Bangalore and San Francisco with a full load of 283 passengers in a three class configuration.

Services on board

In addition, it is also examining the possibility of operating flights from India to Washington through Paris, apart from operating to either Houston or Dallas through a point in Europe.

The Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft that will be used by Air India to operate non-stop flights to the US will offer full flat beds in the first and business class.

Besides, first class passengers will also be treated to a full body massage on the seat while economy class passengers will have to make do with a foot massage on the seat.

“The launch of the flight to New York would technically allow a passenger to leave Mumbai after dinner, get into New York early in the morning and catch the flight back to Mumbai after completing a full day of business,” Mr Thulasidas said.