New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Tata Group-owned Air India has taken delivery of the first line fit Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which is also the first Dreamliner to join the airline’s fleet in more than eight years.
An official on Thursday said Air India completed the title transfer of the Dreamliner at the Boeing’s Everett factory in Seattle on January 7.
After inspections by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft, also first line fit Dreamliner to be taken by Air India after privatisation in January 2022, is expected to arrive in India in the next few days.
The new aircraft has a three class configuration — economy, premium economy and business class seats.
The last line fit Dreamliner that was acquired by Air India was in October 2017 when the carrier was under the government ownership.
Generally, line-fit refers to an aircraft specifically made for a particular airline.
According to the official, the latest aircraft is the airline’s first wide-body and 52nd overall delivery from the 220 Boeing jets ordered in 2023.
Air India Express has already taken delivery of 51 narrow-body Boeing 737-8s, including its first line fit plane that was inducted in late December.
After Tatas took over in January 2022, Air India placed orders for 350 Airbus and 220 Boeing planes. Out of the Airbus order, 6 A350s have already been inducted into the Air India fleet.
Air India already has 26 B787-8s and 6 B787-9s of erstwhile Vistara which was merged with the airline.
Currently, Air India Group has over 300 planes, including 185 aircraft with Air India and the remaining ones with Air India Express.
The official said a dozen more legacy Dreamliners with refreshed interiors are expected to return to service through 2026. PTI RAM DR DR
