First Published Sep 12, 2022, 7:25 PM IST
Delhi: Air India has leased 30 aircraft to introduce premium economy class. Twenty-one Airbus A320 Neos, four Airbus A321 Neos and five Boeing B777-200LR aircraft are among the leased aircraft, Air India said. Air India will get these planes by 2023.
Air India aims to change its business model and introduce premium economy class for passengers. Hence all newly leased aircraft will have premium economy class. Air India’s current fleet consists of Economy Class and Business Class. Air India will also offer premium economy class by changing the business model.
Read Also: Inflation rose to seven percent; RBI may raise lending rates
Vistara Airlines, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is the only airline in India with premium economy class on its flights.
Air India has been in talks with Airbus and Boeing for the past two months to buy the planes. Delivery of the new aircraft is expected to begin soon after either of the two companies place the purchase order. Hence, Air India has decided to expand soon with the help of leased aircraft.
Air India’s narrow body fleet consists of 70 aircraft of which 54 are in service. Its wide-body fleet consists of 43 aircraft, of which 33 are operational. The remaining existing narrow body fleet and wide body fleet will gradually enter service by early 2023.
The leased aircraft will arrive between December 2022 and March 2023 and will begin service on routes from Indian metro cities to the USA, the airline said.
Also Read: High interest for senior citizens; Know these three investment schemes
Additional flights from Mumbai will be added to San Francisco and two international airports in the New York area, Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy, while Bangalore will have 3 times a week service to San Francisco. Air India flights on India-US and India-Canada routes are in high demand, especially after the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 and the Russia-Ukraine war in February this year.
Two months ago, Air India had raised the retirement age of pilots from 58 to 65 as it implements its expansion plans.
Last Updated Sep 12, 2022, 7:25 PM IST