Air India receives the first of 27 Boeing Dreamliner at Charleston

MUMBAI: National carrier Air India received first of its 27 Boeing 787 aircraft at US manufacturer Boeing’s Charleston facility after a long wait of over four years as production delays sent delivery schedules hay wire. Air India will be the fourth carrier in the world to have got this aircraft after Japanese and Ethiopian airlines got the first ever aircraft made of composite material.

The 256 seater aircraft, the only mid-size long haul aircraft on offer currently is an important part of the turnaround plan of the cash strapped Air India. Air India would first fly this aircraft on domestic routes like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Bangalore. African airline Ethiopian already flew a revenue flight of this aircraft type to Mumbai becoming the first to operate this aircraft to India.

“Boeing 787 Dreamliner will touch down at Delhi’s IGI Airport, Terminal-3 on September 8, 2012,” Air India said in a late release on Thursday.

“Dreamliner- the next generation flying machine is the ultimate in terms of passenger comfort- offering an unparalleled feeling of spaciousness inside the aircraft with roomier cabins and higher head clearance. This state-of-the-art aircraft is configured to accommodate 256 seats, - 18 full flat Business Class seats, with flat-bed recline and 238 Economy Class seats,” Air India said.