AI to procure 50 wide body aircraft

Bangalore, Jan 19: Air India will procure 50 wide body aircraft for introducing non-stop service to international destinations, its Chairman and Managing Director V Tulasidas said today.

The wide body aircraft to be procured included eight Boeing 777 wide body long range aircraft, 15 Boeing 777 and 27 Boeing 787 aircraft. The first of the eight wide body LR aircraft, with passenger capacity of 280-190, were expected to be delivered in April and would be utilised for introduction of service between Mumbai and New York, he said.

Mr Tulasidas was talking to newspersons after laying the foundation stone for construction of Cargo Handling Facility at the under-construction Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli, about 35 km from here.

To a question, he said earlier there was a proposal to introduce service on the Mumbai-New York and Delhi-Chicago sectors. However, the proposal conceived in 2004, would be reviewed based on demand.

Referring to cargo handling by AI, he said that despite India having an open sky policy, AI did not utilise the opportunity to grow. However, now the matter had been taken up seriously and efforts were made to corner atleast 30 per cent share in the cargo market within next two years from the present less than ten per cent.

Mr Tulasidas said an integrated approach would be adopted for cargo handling and in this direction, AI had decided to convert two old Boeing 747 aircraft into cargo ones and already an aircraft had been sent to Germany for modification. It was expected to be delivered by June.

To a question, he said there was no proposal before the AI to indent new aircraft for cargo. However, as and when new aircraft were received, steps would be taken to convert old aircraft to cargo flights.

Mr Tulasidas said that of the total 68 passenger aircraft ordered with Boeing, two have been received and three more expected to be delivered this month. ''For next four years, AI would be receiving, on an average, a passenger aircraft every month,'' he added.

Referring to AI merger with Indian Airlines, he said the process was in the final stage and waiting for the Centre's approval. ''By all possibility, the merger may take place in the first quarter of the coming financial year.'' The merger would lead to an integrated airlines for passenger service.

UNI