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avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

DEL - CDG, DEL - NRT to be switched from A330-200 to B777-200LR. BOM - DXB will be a daily B777-200ER from winter 09

So all you domestic flying public BOM - DEL will have B777-200LRs flying between these 2 cities.

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

How economical is the 77L on these medium haul sectors?
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Yeah.

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

A very good decision.

NRT and CDG are premium destinations that attract good business traffic, and merit the best premium class products to stay competitive.

The higher costs associated with the -200LR compared to the -200ER are primarily purchase and amortization costs, not operating costs. The aircraft's higher fuel capacity for ULH routes will not be necessary on such LH routes. In fact, according to Boeing, the raked wing design of the -200LR would makes its operating costs lower than a -200ER. The reason airlines don't buy the -200LR over the -200ER is because of its higher purchase price and because their route structure doesn't warrant an ULH aircraft.

Btw, will these aircraft be based in BOM or in DEL, i.e., will they operate BOM-DEL-CDG/NRT or just DEL-CDG/NRT with BOM pax connecting at DEL via domestic flight?

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

No they will fly between BOM and DEL.

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

From what date will these changes take effect,

Also does AI 826 on thurs continuoe to operate on the DEL-BOM as a 744

Karan

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

IATA winter 09 25th October I think.

Yes AI 826 will operate as a B744 as RUH - DEL - BOM.

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

So what happens to the 330s now?

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

The AI timetable shows CDG and NRT flights originating from BOM on only one each of the 3 weekly CDG flights and 4 weekly NRT flights. The remaining flights all appear to originate from DEL. Of course, AI's miserable website is often wrong.

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

sshank · Member Joined: 16 May 2007 Posts: 377 Location: NYC

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

as far as the NRT flight goes they are scheduled in such a manner.

BOM-DEL-NRT-DEL-NRT-DEL-BOM. Don't know about the CDG flights though.

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

The HKG KIX flight is showing a 772 on tue departure from BOM, from 3rd week sept

Can yoll confirm the same in the GDS and for how long do they intend to keep this up

Karan

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

I don't see it.

All I find is the Tuesday BOM-DEL-NRT flight on a 777, with the BOM-DEL leg connecting with the DEL-HKG-KIX flight.

Boeing7xx · Member Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 477 Location: WSSS

747 crew is going for conversion to 777 and 310 in batches. Some older 74 captains are going to AI Express on deputation. Not a nice move. Imagine Calicut base *sigh*

nadarji · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 305

iflytb20 · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject:

xterra · Member Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 595 Location: DONT KNO

how long is AI keeping the 310s? and how many are there in the fleet..
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~~~Indian Aviation Photographers~~~

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Boeing7xx · Member Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 477 Location: WSSS

The fleet commander for 74's addressed the entire crew today (you can see the entire 74 fleet in bombay right now). So here is the final result.

1. All 80 pilots and courses prior will go to 310 ONLY. (no bond required)
2. All 81 pilots till 88 pilots who have 73 endorsements will have to do their refresher and re-assign to AI Express (delhi and mumbai bases currently, but trivandrum has also been mentioned). (airline will pay for classics to NG, no bond required).
3. All 89 pilots till 99 pilots with less than 4000hrs will go to 310/737. (bond required).
4. All 89 pilots till 99 pilots with more than 4000hrs will go to 777. (bond required).
5. Salaries for September will be disbursed on 7th for those with AI nominated accounts and 11th for those who are taking cheques.

the first officers will be addressed after lunch.

Nimish · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:25 pm Post subject:

Interesting - thanks for the update.

Glad that at least the decision is being shared in a transparent manner. How was the mood of the crews after this address?

Will there be a pay cut involved when moving from 747 to 737?
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himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

Does this mean that the 744s will be on their way out soon?

Boeing7xx · Member Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 477 Location: WSSS

Most of us are unhappy, since the flying pay will change. Also, it is unfair that someone who is 91 pilots gets to go to the 777 while 89 pilots has to go to the 310 or the 737.

However, the fleet commander and the FID were extremely friendly and transparent and made it clear that we all needed to work on this together or we'll not have an airline to fly in 24 months (i think that's what he said). It was polite but firm.

Boeing7xx · Member Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 477 Location: WSSS

Yes, the 744 and the expats are on their way out.... The reason for this re-allocation of crew is that the expats WILL be going at the stipulated time, unlike speculation earlier that kingfisher and jet will bribe their way through the regulator.

iflytb20 · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:55 am Post subject:

@ Boeing7XX

I heard AI "might" keep one B744 for VIP flights. Any truth to this??

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

Who is the fleet commander of B744s at present? Is he the present DO?

xterra · Member Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 595 Location: DONT KNO

who will buy the 744? i dont see any demand.. i am sure they will end up in KEmble or Mojave..

and speaking of newer A/c.. AI is getting 2 321s and 177W and 1 77L..

4 brand new a/c in one week almost.
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~~~Indian Aviation Photographers~~~

rutvij · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject:

When are the 744s being phased out? Any Timeline?

sunny84 · Member Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 157 Location: Gurgaon

Boeing7xx · Member Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 477 Location: WSSS

@iflytb20 - I'm not sure about keeping one 747, however, even if such a choice is made (if and when) the aircraft would get re-assigned to IAF.

@rutvij - we've been told that the last flight will be in the March April 2010 timeframe.

@himmat01 - The DO is not the Fleet Commander if that's what you are implying.

@Nimish - In the current circumstances most of us are glad to just have a job, considering the kind of stuff we're hearing in other airlines, AI at least is keeping its people alive.

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

March/April 2010 is just 6 months away. I can't imagine AI phasing out those aircraft that soon. What will they use on the Saudi runs if the 744s are gone?

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

Boeing7xx · Member Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 477 Location: WSSS

The 787 is way off as of now. The only advantage is that some of us will become check pilots this year itself.

mahan · Member Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 37

Dont you need 2 744 for VIP flights as per protocol ?

Phadnis · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

According to a source, Air India is indeed looking to sell at least 4 of 6 owned 747-400 aircraft soon. 2 are likely to be kept for VVIP operations, though it is still unclear whether these will be operated by Air India or handed over to the Indian Air Force - surely it would be really impractical for a commercial airline such as AI to maintain and provide trained crew for such a small subfleet of 744s just for VIP movements! But really, when it's AI, anything can happen!
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The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.

sammyk · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

^^^ Hope the rumor is true. I've been saying they should do that all along.