Mumbai, April 16:
Air India will induct the first of the 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliners next month.
The Dreamliner will be inducted in the second or the third week,
sources in Air India said. Around 30 pilots will be trained for flying
the new plane in Singapore.
The national carrier is expected to get, at least, three of these
planes this year. The Dreamliner will have Delhi and Mumbai as its
operational bases. Its flying schedule has been proposed on the
assumption that it would fly 4,500 hours per annum implying daily
utilisation of 12-13 hours.
The aircraft, meant for long-haul flights, is light-weight and made
of composite materials such as carbon fibre and is reported to be
fuel-efficient, which would help Air India cut its operational costs
significantly.
Raising funds
Meanwhile, the national carrier has invited merchant bankers to
raise working capital loans up to up to $1 billion from overseas
markets.
The move follows the Government allowing the aviation industry
borrow up to $1 billion annually through the external commercial
borrowing (ECB) route.
The Government approved the much-awaited financial restructuring
plan (FRP) that involves Rs 30,000-crore equity infusion over the next
eight-year period and a debt recast (CDR) of Rs 21,200 crore.
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