Merged Air India to induct 20 Boeing and Airbus aircraft in 2008
02 Jan 2008
New Delhi: Air India will induct about 20 aircraft this year, which will serve to strengthen and expand its domestic and global network. The government has indicated that the flag carrier will very likely place orders for more planes in 2008.
The process of integration of the two erstwhile national carriers, Air India and Indian Airlines, is also moving smoothly, according to AI officials, with the integration of general manager-level staff of the two former airlines likely to have been completed by December 2007.
The amalgamation process for employees projects a time-period of 16-18 months, during which time it is expected that the integration of all staffers will be complete.
The merged airline, which will operate under the brand name of Air India, once the merger process is complete, has placed orders for a total of 111 aircraft with Boeing and Airbus Industrie. The twenty aircraft, which it expects to induct this year will comprise of five Boeing 777, four Boeing 737s, eight Airbus A-320 family and three Canadian Regional Jets.
