Chennai: Barely days after Dreamliner flights were resumed to the city, flyers from Singapore to Chennai were stuck at Changi airport for 7 hours after the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliners they were supposed to board developed a snag. While superstitious people might have suspect that it was a curse, several of the national air carrier’s staff couldn’t help but agree.
On October 1 Air India had announced that the Dreamliner would begin daily flights between Chennai to Singapore as AI 346, departing at 11.30 am, from the beginning of this month. When the ‘most advanced planes’ in Indian airspace began operating, a Dreamliner was flying between Chennai and New Delhi, before the seasonal reshuffle sent the plane on overseas trips five months ago. Dreamliners have been developing windshield cracks, fuel leaks, turbine problems and wheel rips even after they were grounded late last year.
Eventually, the flight from Singapore arrived in Chennai at 5.10 pm and the passengers were quickly loaded for the return trip. The flight took off at 5.55 pm. But the day didn’t end there for AI’s staff, as there was another massive delay in the evening. The night flight to Delhi, AI 043, that normally departs at 9 pm was pushed to depart at midnight as there a “shortage of crew at Delhi.” The plane arrived only at 11 pm. Some of the passengers had been put on the evening flight, while others had to wait it out.
04/10/14 Daniel Thimmayya/New Indian Express
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On October 1 Air India had announced that the Dreamliner would begin daily flights between Chennai to Singapore as AI 346, departing at 11.30 am, from the beginning of this month. When the ‘most advanced planes’ in Indian airspace began operating, a Dreamliner was flying between Chennai and New Delhi, before the seasonal reshuffle sent the plane on overseas trips five months ago. Dreamliners have been developing windshield cracks, fuel leaks, turbine problems and wheel rips even after they were grounded late last year.
Eventually, the flight from Singapore arrived in Chennai at 5.10 pm and the passengers were quickly loaded for the return trip. The flight took off at 5.55 pm. But the day didn’t end there for AI’s staff, as there was another massive delay in the evening. The night flight to Delhi, AI 043, that normally departs at 9 pm was pushed to depart at midnight as there a “shortage of crew at Delhi.” The plane arrived only at 11 pm. Some of the passengers had been put on the evening flight, while others had to wait it out.
04/10/14 Daniel Thimmayya/New Indian Express
