Air India: Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Australia by September
By David Flynn, June 7 2012
UPDATE | Air India says that Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Australia are back on schedule for later this year, following 'an agreement' being reached between Air India and Boeing over delays to the 787's delivery.
The airline will now receive its first three Dreamliners later this month, although Ajit Singh, India's Minister for Aviation, with an international debut "in August between Mumbai and London", Singh said.
"With the initial six to eight weeks, the first aircraft will be used on domestic routes to enable trainees to practice landing and take-off.
"Australia operations (on the Boeing 787) will commence in August-September," Singh said.
PREVIOUS | So you were eager to hop onto Australia's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight later this year, following Air India's plans to start flying the next-gen jetliner from Sydney and Melbourne to Delhi in September?
Not so fast there, cowboy.
Air India has put its Dreamliner ambitions on hold, along with its order for the aircraft itself.
The cash-strapped Indian flag carrier abruptly cancelled the delivery of its first 787 just days before last week's official handover ceremony at Boeing, insisting that Boeing first had to provide compensation for the Dreamliner's production delays.
Air India was initially scheduled to receive the first of its 27 Boeing 787s in September 2008.
The airline, which has been plagued by financial losses and a crippling pilots' strike, is reportedly asking Boeing to cough up as much as US$700m for the Dreamliner's delayed debut.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
06 Jun 2012
Total posts 7
I know it may be a dumb question. But here it is anyway...
Is there any chance that the production spots allocated to air India could be "bought up" by Qantas for a premium in order to get the planes here earlier than expected? I know that it probably means everyone will be bumped up if this isn't possible or done but it seems like it could be a shrewd move if they are able/want to do it. Considering their woes with fuel prices and problems in Europe the quicker jq get a hold of them the quicker they can tap into new Asian markets and reallocate jqs airbus' to Qantas so they can retire older less fuel efficient aircraft even sooner. It could mover their plans forward by about 9-10 months I think depending on how fast they act.... If it is possible....
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 780
An Air India-painted 787 has just come off the line in South Carolina, so Boeing and AI must have come to an agreement to deliver the aircraft. Good news.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 780
Looks like it may be back on - https://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/air-india-to-receive-first-dreamliner-after-delay-compensation-agreement-20120607-1zxo6.html
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
The SMH report is same as our own update to this story, see the top of the aricle.
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