Air India has so far acquired 18 Dreamliner planes: Minister

New Delhi, Dec 22: Air India has so far acquired 18 Dreamliner aircraft costing over USD two billion or about Rs 12,700 crore and spent more than Rs 97 crore on their maintenance since 2012-13, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said on Monday.

While six Boeing 787s were delivered in 2012-13 costing USD 666 million, seven more, costing USD 797 million, were inducted the next year and five additional ones worth USD 571 million this year till date, he said in reply to a written question in Lok Sabha.

No fresh aircraft has been taken on lease by the national carrier between 2012-13 till date, he said. To another question, Sharma said the non-aeronautical revenue of state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) rose by 52 per cent in three years till 2013-14.

Giving details, he said the revenue increased from Rs 819.10 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 1,241 crore in 2013-14.

He said AAI has introduced various new concepts to enhance its non-aeronautical potential like introduction of master concessionaire in the fields of food and beverage, duty free shops, advertisements, Express Courier Terminal and Common User Cargo Terminal.

PTI