Air India shelves plans to induct longer range Boeing 787 planes

Government carrier Air India said it will not buy five Boeing 787-9 aircraft anymore. The decision to stick to the original model of inducting Boeing Dreamliner (787-8) aircraft was taken at a board meeting held recently. The 787-9 variant has a longer flying range and 40 more seats over the 787-8.

Air India, which has 20 Dreamliners, had signed a deal in 2005 to acquire 68 Boeings, including 27 787s. At present, it uses both narrow-body Airbus A320 and wide-body Boeing 747-400s, 777s and 787-8 on international routes. All Dreamliners with the airline are Boeing 787-8 variants and the delivery of the 21st aircraft is expected this month. Last year, it had proposed to replace five of the remaining seven aircraft, with Boeing 787-9 due to comparatively low operational costs.

"Air India had put across its proposal to acquire five Boeing 787-9 to replace Boeing 787-800s to its board recently. But the board did not accept it (the proposal)," an official source said.

The delivery of all Boeing 787-8s is expected to be completed by mid-2016. A 787-8 has a list price of $218 million (Rs 1,350 crore), while 787-9’s is $257 million (Rs 1,590 crore).

Air India