7 months ago
Air India Expands Fleet, Eyes London Flight
Air India is getting a lot of new planes.
They have ordered 600 new aircraft, and 100 have already arrived.
One of the new planes is called the Boeing 787-9, which will start flying from Mumbai to Frankfurt soon.
The airline wants to add more flights from Calcutta, including a possible direct flight to London, which people have been asking for.
Right now, Air India flies to many places within India from Calcutta but no international destinations.
The airport and travel agents think there is a lot of demand for flights to Europe and the US, so they are asking Air India to start these flights again.
Air India has ordered 600 new aircraft, with 100 already delivered and the rest scheduled to arrive by 2032.
The Boeing 787-9, customised for Air India, will start flying from Mumbai to Frankfurt from February 1.
Air India plans to consolidate its bases in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, then expand to other cities based on demand.
The airline is considering adding more flights from Calcutta, including a potential direct flight to London.
Currently, Air India operates 16 daily domestic flights from Calcutta but no international flights.
- Who
- Air India, Campbell Wilson (CEO), Travel Agents Federation of India (Tafi)
- What
- Air India is expanding its fleet and considering new international routes, including a potential direct flight from Calcutta to London.
- Where
- Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Frankfurt, London
- When
- New aircraft deliveries are scheduled until 2032, with the Boeing 787-9 starting operations from February 1.
- Why
- To meet increasing demand and consolidate bases, potentially resuming popular international routes.
Key facts
- Aircraft Orders
- 600
- Aircraft Delivered
- 100
- Delivery Completion Year
- 2032
- New Aircraft Model
- Boeing 787-9
- Initial Route for 787-9
- Mumbai to Frankfurt
- Current Domestic Flights from Calcutta
- 16
- International Departures to UK/Europe/US
- 25%
Quotes
Campbell Wilson
Chief executive officer and managing director of Air India
“As new aircraft start coming in, we will consolidate our bases. First, we are looking at Delhi and Mumbai, and then Bengaluru. We will also be studying demand and feeding the hungry mouths in other cities.”
telegraphindia.com
“When more aircraft start joining the fleet, we will definitely be adding flights out of Calcutta.”
telegraphindia.com
Senior official of the Calcutta airport
Senior official at the Calcutta airport
“We have received data from the Travel Agents Federation of India (Tafi) showing that a number of passengers from Calcutta travel to Europe and the US via other Indian cities. We will be writing to Air India with these figures, requesting the introduction of international flights.”
telegraphindia.com
Anil Punjabi
Eastern region chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India (Tafi)
“Calcutta has consistently demonstrated strong outbound passenger demand, both in business and economy class. Around 25% of total international departures from the city are bound for the UK, Europe and the US. Given Calcutta’s strategic importance, strong corporate presence and growing global connectivity needs, the introduction of direct international flights would be commercially viable and mutually beneficial for airlines, passengers and the airport ecosystem.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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