Air India expects to earn $336 mn by selling 5 B777-200 aircraft

The national carrier has decided to sell these aircraft with the approval of the government

Air India, which has decided to sell five of its Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft, estimates a total earning of over $ 336 million through this transaction.

The national carrier has decided to sell these aircraft "at a total consideration of $ 336.5 million with the approval of the government", Minister of State for Civil Aviation K C Venugopal said in Rajya Sabha today.

Observing that the airline had expected profitability out of operating these aircraft, he said their sub-optimal use led to "route-aircraft mismatch on the network resulting in uneconomic operations of B777-200".

With the induction of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in Air India which is "more fuel-efficient and more suitable for long routes", the airline decided to withdraw the B-777s from such routes.

In reply to another question, Venugopal said Air India has said that they do not have any objection if the operations of superjumbo Airbus A-380 aircraft was allowed "initially from Mumbai airport and that the operations to other airports may be considered after reviewing the impact".

The Civil Aviation Ministry has also moved a proposal to amend the existing eligibility criteria to allow Indian carriers to fly abroad.

He said the proposal to amend the existing criteria would be "by removing the requirement" of a minimum five years experience of continuous domestic operation and a 20 aircraft fleet.

Venugopal said there were no such restriction applicable to foreign airlines operating into India.