Air India will get first Dreamliner this year

National carrier Air India will receive its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the last quarter of 2011.

AI has ordered 27 of the 787s and Jet Airways will buy another 10 of Boeing's new wide-bodied aircraft, both the orders totalling $4.5 billion, the Boeing India President, Dr Dinesh Keskar, said at a news conference during the Aero India 2011 that opened here on Wednesday.

“India's expanding aviation industry is among the fastest growing in the world and Boeing will continue its efforts to closely partner Indian carriers in optimising their growth and competitive advantage,” Dr Keskar said.

The 787, which can seat 210-330 passengers depending on the airlines' needs, he said, would be a ‘game changer'.

As much as 15 per cent growth in passenger traffic and established operating profits across all Indian air carriers indicates a perfect equilibrium of capacity and demand. Air travel in India, tied closely to the country's economic growth, has recovered in mid-2010. However, if fuel prices and inflation remained under control, the nation's aviation market would continue to grow.

As per the aircraft major's 20-year outlook, of 2010 highlights India's aviation need of 1,150 commercial jets valued at approximately $130 billion, a market representing about four per cent of Boeing Commercial Airplanes' worldwide forecast. Dr Keskar said this forecast had steadily grown in the last decade due to the unprecedented growth in this economy. The economy continues to be the strongest in the world with a growth of 8.5 per cent annually over the forecast period.

Boeing said it had significantly expanded its footprint in India both in civil aviation and Defence markets.

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