The Hindu Business Line : Services to Toronto, Haj charters — AI plans to lease 3 more aircraft shortly

Sources told Business Line that the Boeing 777 aircraft, which is to be taken on dry-lease for five years, is to be utilised to operate three incremental services on the Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto sector.

The two Boeing 747-200 aircraft are to be wet leased to operate Haj charters for 2006.

The airline's proposal for leasing the B777 aircraft was cleared by its board recently.

The airline hopes to complete the leasing formalities within the next six-to-eight weeks and induct the aircraft in time to meet peak season passenger demand on the sector.

More choice: "The idea is to offer more choice to the passengers on the national carrier when the demand peaks during the forthcoming winter season," a senior AI official said.

The airline that already operates three times a week on the sector hopes to double the frequency of its flights by the end of the year.

The induction of the Boeing 777-200 aircraft will see the number of such aircraft in AI fleet increase to four.

Haj flights: Meanwhile, the airline will also be utilising its Airbus A-310 aircraft apart from the leased two Boeing 747-200 aircraft to operate Haj flights.

Sources indicated that the Airbus aircraft would be used to operate Haj flights from Srinagar and Jaipur.

The airline is leasing the aircraft as an interim measure as its 50-aircraft fleet acquisition proposal is yet to be cleared by the Government.

The Public Investment Board, which clears investment proposals of public sector undertakings above a fixed amount, is scheduled to meet here on October 13 to take a view on the AI proposal.

The meeting is also scheduled to take up the proposal of AI subsidiary, AI Express to acquire 18 Boeing 737-800 W aircraft.

Sources indicated that both the proposals were likely to be cleared on October 13.

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