Air India is undergoing one of the most extensive fleet modernisation plans in aviation history, with hundreds of new aircraft arriving in the coming years.
As part of these plans, the company will lease three 777-300ERs from Singapore Airlines to meet current demand.
Leasing aircraft is a means many carriers entertain to meet immediate demands across their network while waiting for new aircraft deliveries.
As part of these additional 777s arriving from Singapore Airlines and paired with the already existing aircraft on lease Air India says it’ll be able to phase out its older 777-200s. Air India notes that these aircraft have ageing cabins which is not the direction the new ownership wants to head and not the image to be portrayed.
Since Tata Group took over the reins of Air India once more, there has been a lot of focus placed on ensuring the image of the airline changes and once more becomes a pride flyer of the Indian flag.
Air India has a fleet of 109 in-service aircraft but firm aircraft orders that total almost 500 units, spread across narrowbody and widebody units from Airbus and Boeing.
Air India has conceded the enormous market in South India to foreign airlines, like Emirates, Etihad, SIA & others. If this neglect continues, fliers from the South will migrate en masse to airlines servicing their preferred routes.
Now that Air India is free of government shackles, one hopes for better connectivity and much better service.
When this will start?
This is good news, hope it will start soon