Air India intends to phase out its older A319s that have been in operations for about 30 years and replace them with new A320neos. The airline will also prepare an RFP for 12 further A320neos.
The board has also decided to use three of its 777-200 LRs on domestic routes until June next year since it has not been able to sell them.
The airline plans to raise a bridge loan of $350 million to finance the acquisition of three 787-900s, which will be refinanced through a sale and leaseback.
“We are in talks with Boeing and will ask them for making necessary changes in the order. This change will not only increase 40 more seats, it will also help in increasing nonstop flight range from 12 hours to 14 hours. By doing this we can add non-stop flight to Delhi to JFK airport (New York). We plan to get these three planes with 900 series by June next year,” S Venkat, Air India’s executive director of finance, told local media.
“We also have decided to get the rest six Boeing 787 Dreamliners with the new 900 series instead of the 800 series,” said Venkat. The airline recently received its 18th Dreamliner – all 787-800s.
Venkat said the airline, as per its turnaround plan, needs 70 narrow-bodied planes by next year. Currently, it has 59 such planes. “We have to do so to combat heightened competition on domestic routes,” Venkat explained.