The Hindu Business Line : AI plans to add 4 more Boeing 737s

Beginning November 2006, Air India will be inducting new aircraft, said the Air India Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Thulasidas. He said the national airliner plans to add four more Boeing 737s to its present fleet of 44 by the year end.

Mr Thulasidas was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting convened to select the national winners of the `Race for awareness and knowledge and broad outlook learner teacher awards (Rank & Bolt Awards)'.

"Air India will have a Boeing 787, the latest model from the Boeing stable, by September 2008. We will have 26 more of these fuel-efficient planes by 2011. Totally, we will introduce 68 new aircraft in the coming years. We will receive a small batch of 777 ER planes by February 2007 and the larger version 777 - 300 ERs, by June 2007,'' said Mr Thulasidas.

Air India is planning to take some aircraft on lease with the current leases running out.

"Lease periods of some of our aircraft will end by March 2007. We will take aircraft on lease for a period less than five years. The hitch is the availability of right aircraft at optimum prices,'' said Mr Thulasidas.