Air India to induct first 787 Dreamliner soon

Air India (AI) hopes to induct the first of its new Boeing-787 Dreamliners by this month-end as the aircraft has received regulatory clearances to fly to India. “The first of our 787s have received mandatory flying clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration. A team of pilots, engineers and other crew members will leave for the US soon,” an Air India official privy to the development told IANS. “We expect the aircraft to be in India in around a week’s time.” According to the official, some top officials like general manager for wide-bodied aircraft and director of operation are already in the US to finish the final modalities of sale and lease back of the aircraft. Air India hopes to save on maintenance and other costs by selling and leasing back the aircraft from international lenders. On Aug.3, 2012, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the proposal of the civil aviation ministry allowing the flag carrier to take delivery of 27 B-787 aircraft after signing the delay-compensation settlement agreement. Air India will be the third global airline after All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines to receive the fuel-efficient and eco-friendly aircraft. Air India had booked 27 Boeing 787s in 2006 in a mega deal for 68 aircraft from Boeing. Air India was to get the delivery in May 2008, but that got pushed forward to the end of the month for a variety of reasons including manufacturing delays. The aircraft were scheduled to be delivered from September 2008 to October 2011. But due to certain design and production issues, these were delayed and are now scheduled to be delivered between June 2012 and March 2016. From gulftoday