First 737-800 aircraft to be delivered to AI on Nov 30

Mumbai, Nov 28 (UNI) The Seattle-based aviation company Boeing will deliver the First 737-800 aircraft to Air India on November 30 in Seattle.

According to an AI spokesman, it will be the first owned aircraft to join Air India chartered limited fleet after ten years. The last owned aircraft by Air india was purchased in November 1996.

The aircraft would arrive in New Delhi on December 5 and the event will be celebrated by Air India in the presence of Praful Patel, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, in New Delhi on December 6.

Sources said the tail design of this aircraft represents India Gate and Gateway of India. The second aircraft is scheduled to arive in third week of December apart from three more aircraft in January.

Air India is planning to commence non-stop daily service to New York from summer of 2007.

Air India plans to finance 85 per cent of the aircraft cost to Exim guranteed loan and 15 per cent from commercial lender. The US Exim Bank bank has already issued a final commitment letter in respect of 17 aircraft by December next year and also issued a preliminary commitment for remaining 51 aircraft. The list price of 68 aircraft is 11 billion dollars.

The current AI fleet is of 43 aircraft including seven of Air India Express out of which 18 are owned by AI while remaining are leased. By 2010 the AI will have a fleet of 74.

The Indian Airlines has also got the fleet of 60 aircraft and after merger of the two premier airlines the new airlines will have a fleet of nearly 105 aircraft.

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