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747-237

It's official now - tender is up and running for sale of VT-ALF, ALG, ALH; though that doesn't mean they will find takers, especially for VT-ALH.

http://mmd.airindia.co.in/aimmd/tender/MM_B777-200LR_2014.pdf

http://mmd.airindia.co.in/aimmd/tender/Annexure%20I%20B777-200LR%20aircraft%20%20SPECS.pdf

http://mmd.airindia.co.in/aimmd/tender/ANNEXURE%20II%20-%20B777-200LR%20aircraft%20LOPA.pdf
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rutvij · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:03 am Post subject:

VT-ALH has low flight cycles alright, but that doesn't mean it isn't in a sale-able condition. As evident in the attached aircraft specs LOPA document:

Under heading 'Maintenance Satus':

Next Major Check --> Under Check (rest 2 aircraft major checks due in Q2 and Q3 2015)

Nimish · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:08 am Post subject:

Good - esp. if they are unable to use them to their full potential.
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747-237 · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 2:27 pm Post subject:

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/boeing-777-fire-sale-haunts-air-india/1/205345.html

Boeing 777 fire sale haunts Air India

April 19, 2014

After having sold its five new Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft at a throwaway price, Air India (AI) does not expect to do any better with the sale of next three similar widebodied jets. A top AI official told Mail Today on Friday, "We are not very sure on how the bids will fare. There are not many airlines using these planes. We are also largely hoping on leasing aviation companies to participate in the global bidding for our planes.'' AI chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan said, "I hope this time we do not face problems like we did during the sale of these planes earlier." Last October, AI worked out a deal with Etihad Airways to sell the five Boeings, which have an average age of six years, for Rs 2,135 crore, which worked out to a meagre Rs 427 crore per plane.

The Maharaja had ordered these jets for Rs 1,300 crore each in 2005.

While AI is determined to discard these planes claiming that they are fuel guzzlers, there are as many as nine international airlines, including Japan Airlines and Etihad, which use them. Etihad flies the five planes bought from AI to Europe and the US. The competitive global bidding, released on April 17, will close on May 12 and opened a day later. While commercial bids for these three five-year-old planes would be opened on May 13, technical bids would be opened at a later date.

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Caliguy · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 8:49 pm Post subject:

So does this mean DEL-SFO can never happen or could the 787-9 do it? I've always felt that if AI is going to lose money, it should at least fly routes that will help indian business that other won't fly. Losing money on LHR-BOM is just stupid as it hurts Jet & BA & VS

The_Goat · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:03 pm Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:28 pm Post subject:

How is it that the 77L was only ever fuel guzzling for AI? Emirates, Etihad, Delta and others use it with little problems overall.

I'm sure it has something to do with putting them to use on nonsensical routes like DEL-NRT/BOM-LHR rather than the DXB-LAX/AUH-GRU that they are actually better suited for.

Even the much ballyhooed debut on BOM and DEL-JFK in 2007 was perfectly possible with existing members of their then fleet, the 747 and the 772.
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Nimish · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:14 pm Post subject:

The_Goat · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:33 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 2:06 am Post subject:

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/fresh-tender-for-sale-of-three-b777200lrs/1250973

Air India on Wednesday issued a fresh tender for the sale of its three remaining Boeing 777-200LRs in order to invite more bidders to participate and get a better price for the aircraft. The new tender extends the due date for bids to May 28 from May 12. The airline, which sold five of its eight Boeing 777LRs to Etihad in December last year, had initially issued a tender for sale of the remaining three B777 LRs on April 17.

“We believe more bidders want to participate, so the due date for the tender has been extended. It will help us get a price closer to our expectations,” an Air India official said.

Another senior official said that the target this time is to get a better price for each aircraft as compared to what it got in the previous sale. Air India had sold the first five B777LRs to Etihad for about $350 million — that is about $70 million per aircraft, which is far less than the initial purchase price of $110-120 million. Interestingly, even in the last sale Air India had to to issue multiple tenders in order to get enough interest.

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Oh, don't worry. In about 2 years, AI will start saying that the 787s are fuel guzzlers too. Looks like "fuel guzzler" is a standard part of AI's menu of excuses. In terms of usage it's right up there with "taking AI to its former glory" among the babu-neta blood sucking set.

Meanwhile, every airline in the world from Azerbaijan Airways to Zambia Air will be flying them profitably.

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

I feel they must put IFE like the ones in 321s and 319s, to make the product uniform. Hope the legroom remains the same as them too.

Recently had a ride in the new AI Dreamliner VT-ANH and loved the new interiors and IFE
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rutvij · Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 6:04 am Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 10:23 am Post subject:

On a side note, a friend's family recently few BLR-DEL-JFK return on AI (it was the cheapest fare - even cheaper than the MEB3), and the outbound was 50% full in Y - they got 4 full rows to themselves, and the return was only 25% full in Y - they had 6 full rows to themselves (though only a family of 4). Amazing!
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747-237 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:00 pm Post subject:

Yet another tender process for the remaining 3 LRs (VT-ALF, G, H).
This time there are two simultaneous tenders :

AI intends to offer upto three B777-200 LR airplanes (of Year 2009 make) on dry lease for seven to ten years duration.

http://mmd.airindia.co.in/aimmd/tender/RFQ%20for%20lease%20of%20777-200LR.pdf

Air India intends to offer upto three B777-200 LR airplanes powered with GE 90-110 Engines for sale

http://mmd.airindia.co.in/aimmd/tender/Sale%20of%20three%20B777-200LR%20aircraft.pdf

indopaki · Member Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 479 Location: Pakistan

Why are there no takers from charter airlines? is the LR not a right fit for those.

The_Goat · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 1:34 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/ai-keeps-open-option-of-leasing-3-boeing-777200-planes/article6217589.ece

Air India, which has floated bids for the sale of three Boeing 777-200 planes, today said it has kept the option open for leasing them out if it does not get suitable price for them.

“We are open to both the options — outright sale or lease. These planes are uncompetitive for us and there is no point keeping them in the fleet. If you don’t get good prices for these planes, we are ready to put them on dry lease too,” Air India officials said.

“These planes were bought with US Exim Bank funding with a repayment period of up to 12 years. So, if we are unable to sell them and put them on lease, the lease rentals will be utilised to pay back the loans against these aircraft,” the sources said.

747-237 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 12:35 am Post subject:

http://www.livemint.com/Companies/Ly7geNZXodslfkWKA2PTmL/Etihad-may-take-more-planes-from-Air-India.html

Etihad may take more planes from Air India

Aug 27 2014

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways PJSC has approached Air India Ltd to lease three planes to help expand its fleet.

Etihad, which has invested in Air India’s rival Jet Airways (India) Ltd, has already bought five long-haul Boeing 777 jets from Air India.

“They also want to lease three more Boeing 777 LRs,” said a government official who declined to be named.

Air India’s three Boeing 777 LRs that used to fly to New York are grounded because the airline has lost a lot of money by flying them.

“They are either parked somewhere or used for Jeddah operations sometimes,” said an Air India executive, who asked not to be named. “Because some people have decided in our company that it is a fuel guzzler. It was just bad configuration perhaps.”

The Etihad spokesman did not offer any comments for the story.

A second government official, however, said that because Etihad is the only bidder, it remains to be seen whether the aircraft can be leased to it or whether Air India will need to invite a fresh tender to get more bidders. Norms dictate that the state-owned airline choose the best bidder.

“Let’s be clear, nobody in the current global scenario will buy these big planes except Middle Eastern carriers. We have to go ahead with what we have with all the checks and balances,” the first government official said.
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Nimish · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:49 pm Post subject:

^^ Good - hopefully this will force AI MX to get all 3 operational at the same time Twisted Evil

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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

abhijith16 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:54 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:05 am Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Nimish · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:31 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Thanks, Nimish: even a dry lease should work well for AI.

747-237 · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:50 am Post subject:

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/companies/air-india-in-advanced-talks-with-etihad-to-lease-3-boeing-777s/

Air India in advanced talks with Etihad to lease 3 Boeing 777s

November 6, 2014

Air India is in advanced talks for leasing three of its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to Etihad Airways as it looks to save on interest and principal repayment as well as maintenance costs.

“We have got an offer from Etihad to lease them these aircraft for seven years,” a senior Air India official told FE.

“We are still evaluating the offer and are in discussions with them (Etihad). A decision will soon be taken in this regard,” the official added without elaborating on the size of the deal.

“This time around, we will be leasing the planes for seven years and not selling them,” the senior official mentioned above said.
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Nimish · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:11 am Post subject:

I hope AI does not turn around in a few months and try and lease some new wide bodies for itself!
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747-237 · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 4:49 pm Post subject:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/air-india-is-reconsidering-plan-to-sell-long-range-jets-1417086499?tesla=y&mg=reno64-wsj

Air India is Reconsidering Plan to Sell Long-Range Jets

Nov. 27, 2014

Air India Ltd. is reconsidering plans to sell more of the long-range aircraft which it rarely uses as its executives are concerned they could be accused of corruption if any politician claimed that the jets were sold at the wrong price.

The money-losing, state-run national carrier sold five of its eight Boeing 777-200 jetliners to Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways last year as it had decided it needed the cash and not the jets.

It got about 4.2 billion rupees ($69 million) per aircraft. The deal at the time was criticized by India’s former federal auditor and others who said Etihad had somehow been given a sweetheart deal at below market rates.

Air India executives would now rather just lease out the planes than expose themselves to criticism and possible prosecution in the future.

“We don’t want investigators to come knocking on our doors after some years to ask whether we made the right decision,” said a senior Air India executive who asked not to be named.

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747-237 · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:39 am Post subject:

A top Air India official said that the board has also decided to use three of its Boeing 777-200 LR planes on domestic routes till June next year — it has not been able to sell them so far.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/companies/ai-to-replace-six-airbus-a-319s-with-a320neos-raise-350-m-bridge-loan/20383/
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jbalonso777 · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:35 am Post subject:

From the link:

Nimish · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:31 am Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:22 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Caliguy · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 2:43 am Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 4:55 pm Post subject:

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/companies/air-india-plans-to-sell-3-boeing-777-aircraft/84746/

Air India plans to sell 3 Boeing 777 aircraft

June 15, 2015

In its efforts to reduce debt, state-owned Air India is looking for buyers for its three Boeing 777-200 LR wide-body aircraft, civil aviation ministry officials said.

The national carrier owns 15 Boeing 777s, which includes 12 B777-300 ER. Though pilots complain that the 777s are grounded and unutilised, and insured at very high costs, civil aviation officials refute such claims. “All Boeing 777 planes are in use, but still there are three 777-200 LR aircraft that are up for sale or lease,” the officials said.

In total, Air India has 27 wide-body aircraft typically used for international flights and in-between important destinations like Delhi and Mumbai.

Experts said that sale of aircraft will release some burden from the airlines. “It is better to run the planes on lease than letting it remain unutilised,” said an aviation analyst.

Earlier, the Air India management was alleged to have put six of the aircraft out-of-service, and insuring them at high cost. But ministry officials said that insuring the aircraft is a regular practice, and all aircraft are insured against both own damages and third party risks.

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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Too many confusing signals for (the different parts of?) Air India:
- AI planning to open new destinations in the US (IAH/IAD/DEN/SFO), while JFK continues to be a sore thumb
- AI will not convert the options on the Dream)liners to get B789s in place of B788s
- AI will possibly get 10 or 9 B738NGs for IX in place of the three remaining B77Ws
- AI plans to still sell off the B77Ls
- AI mulls over a pre-clearance at BOM (for AI 191: EWR) and DEL (for AI 101: JFK/127: ORD), and extending the line of thought, more US destinations

Now, AI has/had 5th freedom rights in LHR/BKK/KUL/HKG. Are they planning to use these rights to go into more US markets, using the existing B77W/B788 combination?
Cheers, Sumantra.

Caliguy · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 6:52 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi