Airliners-India.com

777-237LR · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 140

Mega airline’s logo, livery cleared

NEW DELHI, May 15: The civil aviation ministry today cleared the new livery and logo of the mega airline resulting from the merger of Air-India and Indian. It will be called Air India. The ministry has not made an official announcement as the civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, who was present at a meeting held today is learnt to have decided to declare the livery and logo only after taking feedback from higher-ups in the UPA government.
“The logo, design and colour of the aircraft on its wings, tail and body have been cleared. We would, however, like to have a feedback from higher-ups and other concerned agencies. We still have time in hand,” said a senior ministry official. He said the first new wide-bodied aircraft, ordered by Air-India from Boeing, would arrive by June and it would have the livery and logo of the merged entity. “The design of the new livery has been sent to the manufacturer,” he said.
Meanwhile the parliamentary committee on transport, tourism and culture has said the civil aviation ministry’s indecisiveness is preventing the modernisation process of Kolkata and Chennai airports.
The civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, today said there was no proposal to lay down any policy to penalise airlines which do not fulfil the facilities they intend to offer, as the government does not intend to regulate commercial aspects of the carriers.
Airlines have been advised to publish on their website the details of facilities offered by each airline so that passengers are aware of them, Mr Patel said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. He admitted that there was congestion at Delhi and Mumbai airports during peak hours. n SNS

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=12&theme=&usrsess=1&id=156438

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

First of all Rutvij excellent post and thanks for the information.

himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

sammyk · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:22 am Post subject:

Karan, all the dates are for fiscal years. It appears Air India's fiscal year does not begin in January (not an uncommon practice) so something starting in FY2008 is likely to start in 2007 some time.

rutvij · Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: AI's Routes are OUT!

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

Rituvij i stand corrected on "time aspects " my post as i typed it in haste, overlooking Fiscal year funda despite being fully aware of it.

I had no idea that the 772LR would be sitting idle for 15 odd hours--in that case it makes perfect sense to deploy it on SIN/DXB

thanks for the replies to the other quotations though--

Also will the US rioutes from all cities be daily or will it be a traditional 3x-4x weekly service from various stations

Also do you have any info about the slots they have acquired at CDG/FRA/LHR---both current and new

Karan

karatecatman · Guest

Air India has won a global tender to service the engines of Biman Bangladesh's fleet.

This will include the engines on its DC-10s, A310s and turboprop fleet.

rutvij

Air India, Mediascope unveil biz publication 'Corporate'
Thursday - May 17, 2007

Air India and Mediascope Publicitas, this month, announced the launch of Corporate magazine, a new bimonthly in-flight business publication for First and Business class passengers flying on Air India. Corporate is a first for the in-flight world, it is a highly targeted in-flight magazine designed to engage captive and affluent First and Business class passengers on Air India. A mix of the best of Fortune and The Economist, it’s a business/lifestyle magazine that highlights the changes that are occurring in corporate India.

Here's the full Report!!!!

http://www.televisionpoint.com/news2007/newsfullstory.php?id=1179389569

[/i]

HAWK21M · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:29 am Post subject:

karatecatman · Guest

Merger makeover: June may see new beginnings

http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200705/aviationworld07.shtml

Air India to add 25 aircraft, hire 1000 pilots for AI-Express
http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200705/aviationworld22.shtml

karatecatman · Guest

More on the Biman tender that Air India has won:AIRINDIA-
The contract is for around USD 20 million to overhaul and repair the engines.
The three-year contract includes providing on-wing support to Biman’s engine fleet at Dhaka and at other stations.
Biman’s Airbus fleet is powered by Pratt and Whitney 4000 engines. The first engine has been successfully overhauled, meeting the stringent turn-around-time and repair cost requirements and is ready for return, according to Air India.
During the financial year 2006-07, Air India has completed engine overhaul or repair of eight PW 4000 engines and five CF6-50C2 engines, thus earning a revenue of over USD 2.5 million by way of labour and handling charges.
AI’s engine overhaul department carries out overhaul and repair of all PW 4000 and CF6-80C2 engines installed on the leased aircraft operated by it.
These engines are owned by various lessors like Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Boeing Aircraft Holding Co, ALAFCO, Constitution Aircraft Leasing Ltd and Guggenheim Aviation Partners, among others.

***

Air India will replace its existing fleet with 68 Boeing aircraft, barring six B 747-400 jumbo jets, which will be fully refurbished, its Chairman V Thulasidas said today, according to a UNI report.
With this acquisition Air India will have one of the youngest fleet among the major global airlines.
The airlines is also converting six of its A 300 aircraft to start a full-fledged cargo service. Two of them have already been converted and the rest would follow in the near future, he said.
The six Boeing 747-400 aircraft are being refurbished at Dresden in Germany, where most of the international airlines get their aircraft upgraded.
AI also has some old B 747-300s, which were originally planned to be converted to cargo planes, but now the proposal has been scraped it would not economically viable to convert them, Thulasidas said.
The AI board cleared the proposal of buying these 68 aircraft from Boeing. The airlines’ order includes 3 B 777s, 27 B 787-8 Dreamliners and 18 B 737-800s, which would be used by its wholly-owned subsidiary Air India Express. The delivery has already begun and already half a dozen aircraft have been pressed into service.
The first of the Boeing 777 will be delivered next month, which would be used for starting non-stop operation to the US.
The company had earlier said B 777s would replace the airline’s current fleet of Boeing 747-200 airplanes while the 787-8 Dreamliners would replace its ageing A 310 fleet.
AI currently operates a fleet of 11 B 747-400s, two B 747-400 Combis, two B 747-200s, two B 747-300 Combis, three B 777-200 ERs and 21 Airbus 310-300s.

Barring the many mistakes, report gives you a rough idea of what is happening to what.

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

karatecatman · Guest

Update:

Contacted the DGM-PR, Air India, directly on his cellphone and his answer was that things will be clear in about 2 weeks time. Apparently PP is holding a press conference in a week's time to release all details --- what is heading where and who is to be in charge of what department, aircraft features, etc, etc.

Kept telling me to refer to the current Air India website --- and about the pictures to download whatever was available.
Had half a mind to tell him that only someone who has lost his senses would do this.

After a 20-minute conversation -- the guy was travelling in a cab in Andheri --- he helplessly said that "we ourselves don't know what is happening", but has promised to give everything required in 2 weeks time.
When he said "we have not released any details about the changes to anyone", told him that its old news and someone in the US has got the information with pictures.
When he challenged me on that, gave him every single detail, including the shade of white used on the LR. Very Happy

Thanks to Aseem and Matt!
His weak answer was then "you please contact your source in the US. Arre, we don;t know anything as yet."

Nimish · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 5:47 pm Post subject:

karatecatman · Guest

Final changes about name and livery, features, have to be okayed by a Parliamentary committee now. (this is latest latest!!!!). But this should be fast-tracked.

The hassles of being a GoI organisation. Crying or Very sad

karatecatman · Guest

Buzz is that the LRs may be delayed a little further, so this could mean a delivery schedule around June 20-25th.

Some more nonsense about the "first class area and the repaint job and merger issues". This was all the information available.

BTW, the conspiracy theory seems to be doing the rounds rather strongly at Nariman Point about how things were "rearranged" to let 9W capture the limelight in connection with its new hub and its new aircraft.
Most feel if there was a more Air India/IA friendly Minister, things would not have come to such a stage and mess.

***
The six slots at London Heathrow that AI acquired recently from Malaysia Airlines may now be used to start flights from South India as: Chennai/Hyderabad/Bangalore--LON

This is the planning so as not to disturb existing operations out of Mumbai/Delhi/Kolkata.

Things should be worked out after the arrival of the first 2 LRs and the burden on the existing fleet get readjusted.

tayaramecanici · Member Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 648

karatecatman · Guest

Copyright: Statesman

Airlines’ merger may not end ‘freebie’ culture

Sanjay Singh
NEW DELHI, May 18: The promised amalgamation of the two state-owned carriers, Air-India and Indian, by 15 July, promises a change in work culture and other reforms. But the indications are that the merged entity, to be named Air India, would retain its sarkari colour.
This is thanks to its core team of managers, who are bent on holding on to their retirement benefits. These include “lifetime free air travel” for themselves, their spouses and children, besides scores of other perks unheard of in private airlines.
DGCA records note that retired employees of Air-India on completion of 25 years of service are entitled to a 95 per cent discount on air fare ~ and the discount is valid for “unlimited” air travel in the domestic sector for “self, spouse and children”. Retired executives of the rank of deputy general manager and above are eligible for 100 per cent discount. In the case of Indian Airlines, employees who retire after 25 years of service are entitled to “four free tickets for self and family”.
According to an official estimate, over 15,000 retired Air-India employees and their families enjoy free air travel while over 36,000 retired employees of Indian Airlines make use of this perk. Though concessions in air fares is the norm for any national carrier worldwide, they do not offer more than a 40 per cent discount to their retired employees and senior retired officials. But the lenient approach of the government has wasted millions of rupees, claimed a senior executive with a private airline who had a two-year stint with Indian Airlines a decade back.
Union civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, has said air-passage entitlement to retired employees is subject to seat availability (except for deputy GM level and above in Air India and Indian Airlines). And insists that there is no revenue dilution on this account.

Sad

Some things will never change. Expect the first class cabins in the new fleet to be block/bulk booked for ex-employees.

karatecatman · Guest

IFE details for Air India's fleet:

Boeing 747-400
Total: 6
Seats: 423
IFE system: i4000 THALES

777-200 ER
Total: 4
Seats: 292/272
IFE: PTV HI-8

747-300
Total: 2
Seats: 293
IFE: HI-8

747-400 (Leased)
Total: 2
Seats: 418
IFE: HI-8

747-400 (Leased)
Total: 3
Seats: 425/394
IFE: PTV HI-8

Airbus A-310
Total: 19+2
Seats: 203/181
IFE: HI-8

B 737-800 (AI EXP)
Total: 07
Seats: 182
IFE: Panasonic MPESII (HI- Cool

Total of Aircraft = 45

IFE of wet leased aiorcraft not considered.

***
The following types of aircraft will also join Air India fleet in a phased manner

B777-200 LR
Total: 08+07 =15
Induction: June 07 – June 2009
Seats: 238
IFE: i5000 THALES

B777-300ER
Total: 15 or 08
Induction: June 07 – Aug 2011
Seats: 342
IFE: i5000 THALES

B787-8 Dreamliner
Total: 27
Induction: Sept 08 – Feb2012
Seats: 258
IFE: i8000 THALES or PANASONIC eX2
(to be decided)

737-800 Winglet
Total: 12
Induction: November 06 – October 09
Seats: 186
(approx.)
IFE: PANASONIC eFX IFE System
(O/H video & distributed audio only)

737-800 Winglet
Note: Aircraft is in 2-class

Total: 06
Seats: 170 (2-class)
(approx.)
IFE: PANASONIC eFX IFE System
(AVOD)

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Nimish · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject:

D-ABTH · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject:

this doesnt surprise me really.. it just makes for more laughter to look at how the freebie era lives on only at AI for the benefit of vested interests. I dont think any professional airline in the world offers this kind of frivolous benefits for its retired staff. Unlimited for self and family is really pushing it.
_________________
If it aint Boeing.. I aint going.

rutvij · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:59 pm Post subject:

karatecatman · Guest

Answer is fat chance.

Even after the so-called merger look at how IA unions are playing truant.

Several flts out of MAA already delayed becuase they want wage arrears going back several years.

Point is that the union writ/interests always come first and will always prevail as long as this merged airline is in GoI hands.

And old-timers will still tell you that the days of the children of Air India employees spilling mango juice all over the seats in J and running around are not about to become a fairytale.

The only CMD who broke this freebies and upgradation rule with some success and dared to dream big was toughie Rajan Jetley. NO ONE else has succeeded.

Additional info: Want to tell you that the SC/ST unions are planning something now.

Can't reveal much, but this freebies rule/right WAS a major factor in the merger. Much like the Tatkal and Emergency Quota racket in the Indian Railways, where 20 mins after the train has departed, you find 48% of a/c 2 and 3-tier pax to be railway staff/relatives and families.

****

In fact when Ratan Tata was on the Bollywood/celebritypanel to select the seats for the new fleet, he turned round to Thulasi and said: "I hope these seats will be used by fare-paying passengers."
Thulasi had only a stupid smile.
Maureen Wadia and Parameshwar Godrej (ex-Air India airhostesses) then said: "Our perks are going?"

(Panel had Tata, Anand Mahindra, Mr. and Mrs Gavaskar, Maureen Wadia, Parameshwar Godrej, Deepak Parekh, Ambani, Aishwarya Rai, Shabana Azmi, to name some.)

rutvij · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject: Here's the SEAT PITCH for787-8!!

Here's the SEAT PITCH for787-8!!

J class at 74"(They have Improved, it seems!! In the US EXIM BANK MEMo, they had Indicated 60" Pitch!!)
and
Y at 33-34"

Can Nebody Confirm the Model, MANUFACTURER for the J class Seats or Post Some of its Pics??

maut3000 · Member Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 160 Location: Mumbai

Hi!
Went throught this thread after a long time and realized that I was missing a lot. There are a couple of misconceptions I'd like to address:

1. From what I gather from the post, Air India's first two 777LR's are expected to return to BOM in approximately 34 hours and hence might be deployed on a short haul route simultaneously. My knowledge on the subject is that the first 2 LR's will do the BOM-JFK non stop and ONLY THAT. The aircraft will be on ground in JFK for 14 hours or more to facilitate an evening departure from New York.

It is the third LR that will be deployed on the BOM-SIN route.

2. The new MH slots are to be used to increase frequencies from AMD/DEL and not from BLR, MAA or HYD. In summer 07, effective June 2, 4 slots will be used to increase 3 frequencies from AMD and one from DEL. The flights AI-133/132 are already in the system now. The new slots are on days 2,3, 6 and 7. The aircraft to be used for these flights will be deployed on BOM-MAA-DMM-MAA-BOM on days 1 and 4.

Further, I saw the new logo for the merged entity. I'll reserve my comments except for the fact that it is a compromise.

mahan · Member Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 37

rutvij · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 10:26 am Post subject:

maut3000 · Member Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 160 Location: Mumbai

karatecatman · Guest

AI-IA logo, livery may be unveiled

NEW DELHI: The suspense over the mega carrier being formed by merging Air India and Indian Airlines could lift partially on Tuesday as aviation minister Praful Patel is likely to unveil the new livery and logo. While the new merged company, National Aviation Corp, will retain the brand name Air India, the livery would be such that it reminds travellers of both AI and IA.

As a result, said sources, the orange colour and Konark wheel used by IA have been merged on AI's livery. The Centaur on tail wing could make way for the Konark wheel. A new logo has also been designed while the Maharaja will remain the mascot. The new Boeing and Airbus aircraft that IA and AI will get now would be painted in the new livery.

The name of the first chairman is also likely to be announced and sources said Air India CMD V Thulasidas could be chosen for the job. While Thulasidas is expected to be named the first chairman and managing director (CMD) of the new airline, the government will form a selection committee to begin a hunt for his successor as he retires early next year. IA CMD V Trivedi is likely to be the powerful number two in the new airline as both IA and AI would have to be run as separate airlines for quite some time till the merger finally takes shape in coming months.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/India_Business/AI-IA_logo_livery_may_be_unveiled/articleshow/2065610.cms

karatecatman · Guest

Hope the blend of orange and Air Indian red don't end up looking like a blend of carrot juice with watermelon juice that you see in roadside juice stalls!!!

karatecatman · Guest

New look unveiled:

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=23568

http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/22181807/Merged-airline-named-Air-India.html

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=28142

(Has complete details)

karatecatman · Guest

Air India to consider IPO; launch new routes

Quotes:

Now, we hope we can consider IPO in 2008," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters here. The newly registered company, National Airline Company Ltd, would carry the brand name of Air India due to the familiarity of its name abroad and would have the "old and lovable" mascot of 'Maharaja'.

Its logo is a combination of a Flying Swan, morphed from Air India's original logo of Centaur, with Indian's emblem of the famous temple Konark's wheel of time.

The merged entity's registered office would be in New Delhi and corporate office in Mumbai, he said, adding domestic operations and most of the special business units would be based in the national capital.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200705222128.htm

rutvij

After New Livery, Here Come the New 787 Business Class Seats

Recently, There was an Hindustan Times Article about AI placing Order for B787 Seats. I contacted CONTOUR AIRCRAFT SEATINGS for Details of the Order and Got Reply after Atleast 10 Days. BUTTTTTT, the Details are finally Here and they are Amazing(Too good to miss.) !!! Since, Its an E-mail, I can't Post any Links!!!

If U need the Details(Pics and Brouchere), Mail me at :

rutvij_gt90@yahoo.co.in

I will be glad to Forward those(only after 25th MAY due to Exams). Check them and U can Judge, How SERIOUS AI is about Improving their INflight Services!!!

karatecatman · Guest

AI-IA's US flight from Aug 1
23 May, 2007 l

Quotes:

NEW DELHI: The mega carrier being created by merging Air India and Indian Airlines - National Aviation Co. Ltd (NACL) - will begin its first direct non-stop Indo-US flight on August 1. Aviation minister Praful Patel made this announcement on Tuesday while unveiling the new livery and logo of the new airline that would retain the Air India brand name. For once, Patel boasted of "being ahead of the competition" as Jet is beginning its Mumbai-Brussels-Newark flight on August 5.

In another move, he added that the IPO of the merged airline would be offered next year. "It was not considered a very good idea to have public offerings for AI and IA individually. Now we plan to do that next year," Patel said.

The first aircraft sporting the new livery will be the Boeing 777-200 LR will leave Seattle on July 9 and arrive in Delhi next day. At that time, the ministry will unveil the complete new look of NACL by showcasing the changed cabin crew uniform. While AI and IA have placed orders for 111 new generation planes, their aging fleet would get 25 new Boeing and Airbus by this year-end. Similarly, Air India Express and Alliance Air will be merged as the low cost arm of the new airline.

But Patel admitted that the new colours alone won't be enough to turn around the national carrier. "The first challenge is to change AI's image. Due to the old aircraft, there have been issues about technical snags, passenger comfort and timely operations. This needs to be resolved at the earliest. By the year-end the airline would have 27 new planes and I want the new carrier to turn around at the most by 2008," he said in presence of the three top officials of his ministry - secretary Ashok Chawla, AI CMD V Thulasidas and IA CMD V Trivedi.

AI will first begin Mumbai-New York and then have a direct flight from Delhi too and the government is happy at doing it before any other Indian carrier begins service to US.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/India_Business/AI-IAs_US_flight_from_Aug_1/articleshow/2067956.cms

karatecatman · Guest

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/31569.html

New Air India to fly you home and abroad

adhithya · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 23

i believe these are the first pictures of AI unpainted B773ER at PAE (VT-AVJ)

http://microvoltradio.com/images/pae1403.jpg

vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1897 Location: BOM

Guess it should be VT-ALJ

vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1897 Location: BOM

This picture shows one painted and one unpainted 772LR and also the 9W 77W, VT-JEB. Any idea when the 9W aircraft is scheduled to be delivered?