Air India Express receives eighth Boeing 737-800 aircraft

Mumbai, July (UNI) Air India Express, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India, today took delivery of the eighth Boeing 737-800 VT-AXR aircraft.

The aircraft will soon be inducted into the fleet, an airlines statement said here today.

The first three aircrafts were inducted in December 2006 and January 2007. Then in January this year, the airlines inducted two more aircraft in its fleet, while sixth and seventh aircraft made it to the fleet in February and May this year.

With the delivery of another Boeing 737-800, the subsidiary airline's fleet has grown to 15 aircraft, seven of which are on lease.

Air India Express operates with all economy class seats on the Gulf, Singapore and Sri Lanka routes.

As in the past, the tail designs are an innovative and novel feature of the Air India Express aircraft. The eight new aircraft showcase Kerela's famous sport, Snake Boat Race and martial arts, Kalaripayuttu on either side of the tail.

One side of the tail bears the image of two men practicing Kalaripayuttu. A comprehensive system of martial arts, Kalaripayuttu is regarded as one of the oldest and most scientific forms of martial arts in the world that evolved in North Kerala.

The other side of the tail has the image of the spectacular Snake Boat Race, organized in the backwaters of Kerala. Boats of various sizes and shapes participate in these races, one of which is the ''Chundan Vallan'', which means 'Snake Boat of massive size and attractive shape'.

UNI