New Delhi: After a delay of nearly four years in its delivery, National carrier Air India will begin flying Boeing 787 Dreamliner on domestic routes from Wednesday. The 256-seater was to be handed over to Air India in 2008, but issues like supply delays and labour trouble delayed the process.
Air India has placed an order for 27 dreamliners in all and is hoping to get them by 2016.
"Dreamliner will start flying on domestic routes from September 19. The first flight will be on the Delhi-Chennai route. Later on, six more destinations will be added", said Rohit Nandan, chairman and managing director, Air India.
According to Nandan, the new aircraft will be deployed on major international routes from December, while in the interim period the aircraft may be flown to Dubai or Singapore.
Air India, in a mega deal with Boeing, had booked 27 Boeing 787s in 2006. The carrier was to get delivery in May 2008, which got pushed forward for a variety of reasons, including manufacturing delays.
Air India's first Dreamliner arrived in the national capital September 8, ending a four-year wait. Air India is the fifth airline to receive the fuel-efficient and eco-friendly aircraft.
The aircraft arrived after the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) approved the the delay-compensation settlement agreement with Boeing, allowing the civil aviation ministry and the flag carrier to take delivery of 27 Boeing 787 aircraft.
The airline will take deliveries of five more 787s by end of this year, followed by seven more in 2013, five in 2014, six in 2015 and three in 2016.
On a long term basis the airline plans to deploy the 787 on many routes including the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia.
The Boeing 787 aircraft is made of composite materials. Its newly-developed engine and advanced flight technologies make it highly fuel-efficient. The plane can fly up to 16,000 km non-stop.
With additional information from IANS
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