AI has 15 777-300ERs officially in their fleet. 3 delivered last year.
2 (of the new 3) are currently at Ft. Worth undergoing VIP modifications.
So, with their usable fleet of 13, they fly the following:
BOM-DEL-JFK (daily)
BOM-JFK (3x weekly)
DEL-BOM-EWR (daily)
HYD-DEL-ORD (daily)
DEL-IAD (3x weekly)
DEL-JED (3x weekly)
BOM-JED (4x weekly)
That uses about 9 aircraft. They currently have 2 aircraft in storage. VT-ALU stored in Nagpur (what's there?) since September and VT-ALO stored in Mumbai since June. So 11 active aircraft, flying just that???
I don't understand why they chose to accept delivery of the 3 new aircraft last year when they cannot utilize what they already had. Are they planning on using 777-300ERs elsewhere?
As far as I know, DEL-SFO is done with their 3 777-200LRs.
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Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
It is the way of Air India. Buy more frames than needed, mostly for political reasons, and then have multiple frames out of service for maintenance for very extended periods.
Their 27-strong 787 fleet has had between 2 and 4 aircraft out of service for extended periods (currently 4) at pretty much any time. Some of the groundings have lasted about a year.
Some posters have defended this by saying that import of parts to India can be extraordinarily time-consuming, and therefore it can be more cost-effective to put whole frames out of service temporarily to keep others flying. Others have told complicated tales about AI engineering's business model. But whether the cause is regulation or just ineffective management, it's an extremely expensive way to run an airline.
Their 27-strong 787 fleet has had between 2 and 4 aircraft out of service for extended periods (currently 4) at pretty much any time. Some of the groundings have lasted about a year.
Some posters have defended this by saying that import of parts to India can be extraordinarily time-consuming, and therefore it can be more cost-effective to put whole frames out of service temporarily to keep others flying. Others have told complicated tales about AI engineering's business model. But whether the cause is regulation or just ineffective management, it's an extremely expensive way to run an airline.
Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
AI Engineering is Asia's largest MRO, yet it is not an overhaul mill churning out engines every two weeks like other low-cost MROs in the region. It is also one of the very few airlines in the world with in-house MRO capabilities.
It takes minimum 3 months to overhaul one engine. So a heavy check and engine overhaul may take up to 6 months.
AI realized the optics issue with this model and Dry Lease + PBTH its NBs. A good thing knowing the build quality of current types.
There are a lot more 787s parked around the world waiting RR fixes than AI 787s. Kudos.
It takes minimum 3 months to overhaul one engine. So a heavy check and engine overhaul may take up to 6 months.
AI realized the optics issue with this model and Dry Lease + PBTH its NBs. A good thing knowing the build quality of current types.
There are a lot more 787s parked around the world waiting RR fixes than AI 787s. Kudos.
All posts are just opinions.
Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
Because Air India has never had to worry about the economics of running an airline. Because whatever happens AI can turn to the Indian government with a begging bowl.
17April2019: RIP Jet Airways
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- iAmAlaska49
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Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
Flightradar24 showed AI184 using VT-ALL, which is a 777-300ER, on the SFO-DEL route on April 1. But the aircraft stopped in SHJ before continuing to DEL.
Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
Air India have very recently returned B77W flights to LHR on the AI131/130 BOM-LHR-BOM rotation.
Its nice to see the AI 777s again at LHR after i think maybe 3 years since they last operated to LHR.
Its nice to see the AI 777s again at LHR after i think maybe 3 years since they last operated to LHR.
Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
iAmAlaska49 wrote:Flightradar24 showed AI184 using VT-ALL, which is a 777-300ER, on the SFO-DEL route on April 1. But the aircraft stopped in SHJ before continuing to DEL.
That's probably due to the closure of Pakistani airspace.....
Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
You can add the daily BOM - LHR to your list of where they operate to now.
Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
kaitak744 wrote:VT-ALU stored in Nagpur (what's there?) since September and VT-ALO stored in Mumbai since June. So 11 active aircraft, flying just that???
I don't understand why they chose to accept delivery of the 3 new aircraft last year when they cannot utilize what they already had. Are they planning on using 777-300ERs elsewhere?
As far as I know, DEL-SFO is done with their 3 777-200LRs.
Nagpur is an AIESL MRO location for heavy checks. Mumbai has GE engine shop operated by AIESL and WB MRO.
https://www.ge.com/in/sites/default/fil ... tsheet.pdf
Air India, time and again fails to plan their heavy checks and engine overhauls based on their in-house capacity. Ends up with several grounded frames.
I am sure 2012-13 delivered 787s are ready for heavy checks and overhauls without any proper plan.
All posts are just opinions.
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- CaliguyNYC
- Posts: 1260
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Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
TC957 wrote:You can add the daily BOM - LHR to your list of where they operate to now.
The AI J product is so much better on the 787 than the 77W.
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lightsaber
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Re: Air India 777 fleet usage
dtw2hyd wrote:AI Engineering is Asia's largest MRO, yet it is not an overhaul mill churning out engines every two weeks like other low-cost MROs in the region. It is also one of the very few airlines in the world with in-house MRO capabilities.
It takes minimum 3 months to overhaul one engine. So a heavy check and engine overhaul may take up to 6 months.
AI realized the optics issue with this model and Dry Lease + PBTH its NBs. A good thing knowing the build quality of current types.
There are a lot more 787s parked around the world waiting RR fixes than AI 787s. Kudos.
It should never take 3 months to overhaul an engine. Pratt's Texas overhaul facility does it in 2 weeks by scheduling dedicated crews and having every possibly needed spare part on hand. One pays for that service.
That is engine in and through testing. Yes, 24/7 staffing is required. Having a $4.5 million dollar asset sit costs $10,000 per week. The extra ten weeks costs AI $100,000 per engine (mostly in the cost of buying more spare engines and the required periodic maintenance on them).
Overhaul mill for 2 weeks?
That is the industry standard on a narrowbody engine. Widebody engines take a few more days.
Return on capital is a benchmark every industry should be subject to. It is past due for AI to start being professionally managed and have such information in their quarterly reports. Quarterly reports force a marching pace for a business. Mostly by benchmarking managers before they can jump to the next assignment.
E.g., we knew 6E was hit by CFM-56; overhaul costs exceeding expectations the quarter the costs hit the company.
The GE-90 is a well understood engine. There is no reason AI should take 4X+ industry norms.
Lightsaber
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