Air India’s First Boeing-Dreamliner to Be Revealed Next Week

Online sources revealed that Boeing is all set to deliver Air India’s first 7 'Dreamliners' out of the 27 planes order. The US aircraft builder informed that 'Dreamliners' would land in Hyderabad next week during the India Aviation 2012.

However, the airline is believed to induct the dreamliners in May after the operational and technical certifications from the US Federal Aviation Administration, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other agencies.

Air India’s 787 dreamliners will feature its quintessential livery that includes distinctive 'red and white' colours portraying flying swan with the 'Konark Chakra'.

A Boeing spokesperson said, "The super-efficient Boeing-787 Dreamliner is set to make its debut at Hyderabad as part of Boeing's commercial products showcase at the 2012 India Aviation Airshow".

He aforesaid that the Dreamliner aircrafts were set to land at Begumpet Airport on the eve of the Hyderabad airshow and will remain on static display till March 16.

Air India, popular for offering cheap tickets for flights to India, has been expecting the delivery for almost three years and has sought a heavy compensation from Boeing.

In order to manage the anticipated financial burden after this deal, the airline has decided to sell and leaseback the first seven Boeing-787’s. The airline has also started looking for bridge financing worth USD 230 million.

However, the decision to curtail the order or leaseback all the planes or purchase some of them outright rests with the Indian government. The government also seeks to sort out the compensation issues before Air India starts inducting these dreamliners.

Air India plans to replace the B-777 aircrafts with Boeing-787s on its long-haul, non-stop flights including US and Canada. So holiday makers can now expect Boeing-787 to be best choice for netting tickets on long-haul flights to India.

Boeing 787 - Game Changer

The Boeing spokesperson while informing about Air India’s Boeing 787 said, it will feature "Beautifully designed interiors with warm colours, a luxurious business-class cabin, overhead crew rest compartments and an economy-class section,"

Details on the number of seats in both classes of travel are still unavailable due to commercial reasons.

Boeing's Senior Vice-President (Sales) Dinesh Keskar said, "The 787 Dreamliner is a game changer and we are proud to bring it to India Aviation 2012, which is a perfect place to showcase the world's most advanced commercial airplane."

Boeing claims 787s to be 20 percent more fuel-efficient as compared to other similarly-sized aircrafts. If Boeing’s claims are to be believed, then Air India might just become a more popular choice for travellers looking for tickets on cheap flights to India. But it remains to be seen if the airline would be keen on passing on the savings from greater fuel efficiency to delight travellers with cheap flight to Indiaand other destinations.

Air India's plane acquisition programme from Boeing, including the Boeing 787s has been supported by the US Exim Bank. The bank’s support amounts to USD 3.4 billion.

Reference: News Source