what's so strange about it. Its time they shed their flab and also their F/A's flab. Jokes apart, why hire more crew when you already have more than what you need. Maybe what you mean is that they should use their extra staff on these planes.
apart from those points... i had previously mentioned why it was also a mixed bag for AI on the wet lease rather than dry on some other thread...
operations wise it has the potential to cause more headaches to AI if there are any compatibility and other goof ups which im sure theres bound to be knowing the way AI functions...
Sounds like a ACMI lease, will be interesting to see where do they get it from. IMO it could be a mix of B767 & B757. Delta, US, UA & CO are looking at rescheduling some of these types.
The wet lease makes sense, AI has problems brewing within their engg too.
Overall not a good sign, i don't see the logic in getting into a market share war. It makes sense to consolidate the present services, resolve labour, merger and IPO issues. You can see another CARIBJET scandal emerging.
July 26, 2006 AI is now looking for 4 widebodies and upto 5 widebodies (medium range) on wet-lease to maintain schedule, says my AI source. 4 widebodies are from B747-400, B747-300, B777-300ER, B777-200ER, A340-600, A340-300, A330-200 and MD-11 while medium range is A310-300, A330-200, B767-200ER, B767-300ER and B757-200 But the lease (includes cabin crew as well) is for a maximum 2 years. Would you be kind enough to provide the source of information!! Aseem-- Edited by karatecatman at 01:40, 2006-07-27 -- Edited by Aseem at 10:18, 2006-07-27 -- Edited by karatecatman at 14:27, 2006-07-27
Karatecatman!
Isn't there a starkling resemblance between what you posted and the quote I am referring to below?? Please explain!!
New Delhi , July 27
Air India has entered the market to wet lease up to nine aircraft, including four long-range aircraft and five medium range aircraft.
A wet lease includes hiring the cockpit crew along with the aircraft being taking on lease and should help the airline as it has a shortage of 85 pilots.
The airline is to choose from among the Boeing 747-400, 747-300, 777-300 and 200 Extended Range, Airbus A-340-600 and 300, A330-200 and MD-11 for operating its long-range flights.
In addition, the airline plans to select from the Airbus A-310-300 and A-330-200 and Boeing 767 and 757 to meet its medium-range flight requirements. It plans to start leasing the aircraft from October this year, when globally the winter schedule of airlines starts.
My source in Air India has access to press releases. Got it in advance and I released this at least a day before any media organistion in India or the world picked it up.
Thank me! I got airliners-India the info before any one did.
IMO it could be a mix of B767 & B757. Delta, US, UA & CO are looking at rescheduling some of these types.
The ME war will see a lot of yanks dropping their intl travel plans out of security fears, historically this is what has happened whenever US has been involved in these wars directly or indirectly. Probably there lies an oppurtunity, well if the yanks cancel their holidays abroad won't it affect air travel worlwide including to INDIA.
The move would offer customers the choice of flying an Indian carrier in either business or economy class when they travel to cities that are about five hours from India.
New Delhi , Aug 28
Air India is preparing to face competition headon from airlines in South-East Asia, the Far East and the Gulf.
With some of its leased aircraft due to be returned, the airline is examining the option of wet leasing six Boeing 737-800 aircraft from its low-cost subsidiary, AI Express, which is schedule to receive 10 brand new Boeing 737 aircraft next year. (A wet lease involves taking the aircraft along with the cockpit crew.)
The aircraft being leased would offer customers the choice of flying an Indian carrier in either business or economy class when they travel to cities that are about five hours from India.
This, in effect, means that AI would be able to offer non-stop flights from various India to destinations as far apart as Hong Kong and possibly China in the East and Dubai in the Gulf region. "The proposal would be a win-win for both airlines," a senior AI official said.
"The induction of the aircraft from AI Express would ensure that the parent does not have to look outside for acquiring aircraft and the subsidiary would get lease rental for an expensive asset that otherwise it might not be able to utilise."
The induction of the airline could see $1-1.25 million per aircraft per year flow into the coffers of the subsidiary airline as leasing charges.
AI is conducting a feasibility study to see whether the cost of reconfiguring the aircraft into a single class cabin before returning it to AI Express would be offset through the revenues that operating the flight would yield.
While AI Express operates its aircraft with a single class configuration, the AI aircraft have two or three class configuration.
A committee headed by AI's Director of Finance is also examining which in-flight entertainment (IFE) system should be installed if the Boeing 737 aircraft are leased.
"The aircraft will have a dropdown television. However, the committee is examining whether having some added IFE equipment is feasible," a senior official said.
The aircraft being leased by AI would not affect the operations of AI Express, sources said.