Air India's 1st Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner nears delivery
What's the story
Boeing India and South Asia President Salil Gupte has announced that the aerospace giant will soon deliver Air India's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The delivery is expected in the coming weeks. Gupte stressed that this induction will not only enhance Air India's wide-body capability but also improve efficiency and help meet the growing long-haul demand.
Ongoing process
Production of next Boeing 787-9 for Air India underway
Gupte also revealed that the production of the next Boeing 787-9 for Air India is already in progress. The aircraft is a part of the Boeing 787 family and has a longer fuselage and higher passenger capacity than its predecessor, the 787-8. It can typically accommodate between 250 to 290 passengers in a three-class configuration.
Aircraft features
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: A blend of efficiency and comfort
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is made from advanced composite materials, making it lighter and more fuel-efficient. It is powered by next-gen engines and can operate on a variety of long-haul routes. The aircraft also comes with an updated cabin architecture with larger windows, improved air quality systems, and higher humidity levels than older wide-body aircraft.
Expansion strategy
Air India's order and future plans
Air India has placed an order for 20 of these aircraft as part of its massive order of over 200 Boeing jets placed in 2023. The airline plans to induct six new wide-body aircraft, including Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350-1000s, by 2026. It also intends to add around 20 narrow-body aircraft during this period. However, the fleet size will remain flat due to the return of older leased jets.
Market dynamics
Factors influencing capacity deployment in India's aviation industry
Gupte pointed out that aircraft availability is just one of the many factors affecting capacity deployment in India's aviation industry. Other factors include aircraft supply, infrastructure readiness (airports and landing/parking slots), regulatory frameworks, global maintenance capacity (especially for engines), and pilot availability. These elements together determine how much capacity can be deployed in the market.