Boeing, Air India in Talks to Defer Plane Delivery

New Delhi: Boeing Co. and Air India are in talks to defer the delivery of three 777-300 Extended Range planes to the loss-making national carrier, senior executives at both companies said.
Dinesh Keskar, president of Boeing's Indian operations, said also construction of a $100 million aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul center, or MRO, in a joint venture with Air India has been delayed because of the global economic slowdown and will now likely start next year.
"We are discussing with Air India on what their needs are and we may defer three of their 777s," Mr. Keskar told Dow Jones Newswires recently. "They (delivery of the 777s) are going to be in 2011...(now, the schedule) may go two years out. We are in discussions."
The three 777-300 ER aircraft are among 23 planes of the 777 series that Air India had ordered in 2005. The carrier has received delivery of 17 of them, including eight 777-200 long-range planes.
Air India, run by National Aviation Co. of India Ltd., ordered a combined 111 planes--68 from Boeing and 43 from Airbus--valued at an estimated $15 billion at list prices. Boeing is scheduled to deliver its 35th plane from the order this month.
11/12/09 Santanu Chowdhury/Wall Street Journal

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Foreign Dec 2009, NACIL Dec 2009