U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing on Tuesday said it will start delivery of 787 Dreamliners to Air India by second quarter of next year.
“We have said in July that we will start the deliveries of Dreamliners to Air India by second quarter of this year and we stand by that,” Boeing India president Dinesh Keskar said.
Air India plans to buy 27 B-787 Dreamliners from Boeing which are to be delivered in phases.
The B-787s, made of composite materials to make it lighter and more fuel-efficient than other aircraft, are to be deployed by Air India on long-haul sectors like India-U.S. and India-Australia for non-stop operations.
Mr. Keskar said the Indian aviation market will grow by 15 per cent and profitability is increasing in the sector.
On Boeing’s deal with low cost carrier Spicejet for delivery of 30 B-737 planes, he said it is a good sign for Indian aviation industry which is “coming back to life.”
SpiceJet will buy 30 B-737 planes from Boeing in a deal worth $2.7 billion, which is the part of $10 billion business deal sealed during U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit in Mumbai.
Mr. Keskar said Boeing has a total supply backlog of 100 aircraft to Jet Airways, Air India and Spicejet.
This backlog worth $15 billion will be cleared in the next four to five years, he said.
