Air India wants govt to clear order for 27 Boeing Dreamliners

New Delhi: Despite its begging bowl to the government, Air India is pushing the latter to allow delivery of all the 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliners they’d earlier ordered.
However, the government, orchestrating a huge financial rescue plan for its loss-making carrier, is comfortable with the delivery of only 14. A decision will be taken by the Union cabinet very soon.
“Dreamliners are a prominent part of our turnaround plan and we want all 27 aircraft to join our fleet. This aircraft will be able to fill the much needed requirement of a medium-haul fleet,” said a senior Air India official, who did not want to be identified.
Air India had ordered 27 Dreamliners in 2005, as part of a 111-aircraft deal with Boeing and Airbus. Delivery has been delayed by a little over three years. At present, the government does not want the airline to increase its financial burden. A Group of Ministers (GoM) on the ailing carrier, headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, had formed a group of officers to decide on the status of plane purchase. The group suggested pruning the order to 14 aircraft. AI disagrees.
18/02/12 Mihir Mishra/Business Standard

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Categories: Air India Feb 2012