After the delivery delay and global grounding of Boeing's dream jets, state-run carrier Air India (AI) finally
resumed commercial operations of 787 Dreamliners on Wednesday with chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan announcing that that all of its eight Boeing B-777 (LR) aircraft will be replaced by the new aircraft over the next few years.
AI plans to either
sell or lease the B-777s.
Two of AI's six Dreamliners operated regular flights from Delhi to Bangalore and Kolkata. While AI-803 made an early morning round trip to Bangalore with 156 passengers and crew on board, AI-020 operated to Kolkata in the afternoon.
"We are replacing all our B-777s, with which we have been operating our longhaul flights. We treat the Dreamliners as a game-changer for us as this aircraft will improve our revenues over the years," Nandan said at a joint press conference by Air India and the American aircraft manufacturer to mark the resumption of Dreamliner operations.
"We will either sell or lease them. We are in the market
talking to prospective clients but can't disclose anything more as it's a commercial matter. We are already in discussion with Boeing to help us in this matter." Nandan further said.
Boeing's senior vice-president Dinesh Keskar spoke about the refit of new batteries in each of the 50 B-787s, which were grounded worldwide since January 17 after two battery-fire incidents involving these planes of two Japanese carriers.
"We are confident that the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity," Keskar said.
In association with Mail Today 
Special 
