A-I may drop plan for six B-777s

Faced with a slump in the aviation sector and mounting government pressure to restructure, cash-strapped national carrier Air India is mulling cancelling delivery of six Boeing-777 long-haul aircraft.
Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav and Boeing India President Dinesh Keskar held a meeting in Mumbai today at the Air India office to discuss the matter.
“Air India is in dialogue with Boeing for cancellation of six B-777 aircraft deliveries in 2010-11 and 2011-12 in view of the current global aviation scenario,” an Air India spokesperson told PTI.
The national carrier, which is facing a severe cash crunch, had ordered 111 aircraft, including 68 from Boeing, at a total cost of over Rs 50,000 crore to augment its fleet. The fleet renewal plan, including scheduled deliveries of airplanes, is currently being reviewed by the carrier. As of now, it has 46 aircraft on lease, including 17 on sale-and-lease back arrangement.
The Air India board, in its recent meeting, asked the airline management to cancel the delivery of six aircraft. But the letters have not been issued, an airline official said.
01/08/09 Press Trust Of India/Business Standard

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