Air India — Boeing sign deal for 68 aircraft

Mr V Thulasidas, chairman & managing director, Air India, and Mr Alan Mulally, president & CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, today announced an order for 68 aircraft.

Air India's order consists of 23 B777s, which includes eight B777-200LR (Long Range) Worldliners and 15 B777-300ERs (Extended Range), and 27 B787-8 Dreamliners. Air India Express, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, will receive 18 Next Generation B737-800s.

Air India expects that the positive economics of the B777-200LR, B777-300ER and B787 Dreamliner will offer to the airline operational cost savings and the flexibility to serve new, ultra-long-range non-stop routes that passengers flying Delhi-New York and Mumbai-San Francisco demand.

"The combination of the B777 and B787, matched with the reliability and low operating costs of the B737s, will provide a competitive advantage for Air India and Air India Express, '' said Mr Thulasidas.

Additionally, Boeing has announced that it has committed to investing in a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) base, and a pilot training facility in India.

The B777-200LR and the B777-300ER are fuel efficient, long-range airplanes that burn approximately 24 percent less fuel per passenger, fly farther and carry more passengers and cargo than competing airplanes.

The deliveries are scheduled to begin in November 2006. Air India currently operates a fleet of 11 B747-400s, two B747-400 Combis, two B747-200s, two B747-300 Combis, three B777-200ERs and 21 Airbus 310-300s. The airline will use this order to support both fleet renewal and expansion plans. The B777s will replace the airline's current fleet of B747-200 airplanes while the B787-8 Dreamliner will replace its aging A310 fleet.