The Hindu : Front Page : Air India to take delivery of Boeing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005

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Air India to take delivery of Boeing

By T.S. Shankar

SEATTLE, FEB. 21. A new chapter in India's aviation history unfolds on February 23 as Air India takes delivery of the first of the three Boeing-737-800 series aircraft from the company's airfield in Seattle.

This all-economy class configuration 181-seater aircraft taken on a leased arrangement paves the way for its low cost airline, the Air India Express (AIE), from April-end.

Talking to visiting Indian journalists here,AI's Director Public Relations, Jitender Bhargava, said AIE would be run by AI Charters Limited, a subsidiary company of Air India.

"AIE initially plans to link 37 services a week from Kerala to Gulf routes from April-end." Flights from Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai airports would be introduced to South East Asian and Gulf destinations once more aircraft are inducted," Mr. Bhargava said.

The AIE would operate to short haul destinations with a maximum of three to four hours of flying time, and the emphasis would be on "safe, efficient and point-to-point air service."

Huge demand

for Gulf sector

There is a huge demand for operating the Gulf sector from Kerala, and Mr. Bhargava said that under the long-term plan, 127 flights a week would be operated, linking the Gulf sectors and South East Asian destinations from Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi, besides Kerala.

The AI's proposal for AIE to acquire 18 airplanes for over Rs.4, 500 crores has to be approved by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.

Twenty co-pilots, 30 aircraft engineers, 45 technicians and 62 cabin crew have been recruited and are being trained.

Mr. Bhargava said that following a decision by the Board, overseas pilots would be joining the AIE as adequate number of trained commanders are not available in the country.

Asked whether the AIE would offer competitive pricing, Mr. Bhargava said the tariff would "make aviation affordable."

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