Air India expects place an order for the Airbus A380 or Boeing 747-8 by the middle of next year to replace its 747-400s, which will be converted to freighters.
The airline says it has set up a committee to carry out the evaluation of the ultra-large aircraft and aims to place an order within six months. It adds that it needs to place an order soon to ensure that it secures delivery slots in 2011 or 2012.
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© AirTeamImages.comAir India's Boeing 747-400s look set to be replaced
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The aircraft will replace Air India's eight 747-400s, which will be withdrawn from passenger services, and the airline confirms that it plans to have these converted to freighters. "We will do some of the conversions in India," says Air India.
The carrier last year ordered 68 Boeing aircraft - a mix of 737-800s, 777s and 787s - but Air India says the last of these are to be delivered in 2011, so it has no aircraft on order beyond that. India's civil aviation minister Praful Patel in October told Flight International's sister publication Airline Business that Air India plans to place an order in mid-2008 for more narrowbodies and widebodies.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
