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Ajit Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday. Picture by Ramakant Kushwaha
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New Delhi, Sept. 12: Air India will initially ply the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on domestic routes, with flights on the Delhi-Calcutta route scheduled from September 22.
The aim is to make the pilots and crew familiar with the plane before it is assigned for international flights. The Dreamliner will debut on the Delhi-Chennai sector on September 19.
“Daily Delhi-Calcutta flights will start from September 22. The aircraft has to complete a certain number of hours on the domestic route before it is allowed to fly internationally and our pilots and crew members have to complete a certain number of hours on the aircraft as well,” chairman Rohit Nandan said.
The Dreamliner, which features roomier cabins, mood lighting, better on-board entertainment system and higher head clearance, has 238 economy and 18 business class seats.
Boeing says the plane consumes 15-20 per cent less fuel than an aircraft of the same size, substantially reducing fuel cost, which make up 40 per cent of an airline’s operational costs.
“It would be an opportunity for domestic travellers as they would enjoy the comforts of an aircraft that has been specifically brought in for long haul travel. After two months, the aircraft would only fly to destinations in Australia, the US and Europe,” civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said.
Singh said Air India would get five more Dreamliners by the end of this year and seven in 2013.
According to the civil aviation ministry, AI will need to add more planes to its fleet to expand its market share.
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