Boeing to fix 787 plane battery by month-end for Air India
US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing will deliver 787 Dreamliner to Air India by month-end after fixing battery
Moneycontrol Bureau
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing will deliver one more 787 Dreamliner aircraft to Air India by month-end after fixing batteries in the high-tech plane, reports CNBC-TV18. The flag carrier had to ground 787 aircraft in mid January after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) insisted that airlines having acquired B737 from Boeing would have to demonstrate the lithium ion batteries were safe before they could resume flying. Also Read: Air India may sell all eight of its Boeing 777 aicraftsSector regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also insisted on safety before the aircraft takes to skies. “The regulator is satisfied with our work,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, sales Asia Pacific, BoeingBoeing is in the process of fixing batteries in over 50 787 aircraft from carriers across the globe following incidents of overheating in the batteries providing auxiliary power. Boeing has since worked to develop new battery housings to prevent a repeat of the incidents.Meanwhile, AI already has 6 787 planes in its fleet and has ordered for 21 more in the category so that it can replace older aircraft which are considered fuel guzzlers.With the induction of Dreamliner aircraft in its fleet, the airline will save atleast 20 percent on fuel cost which is around Rs 500 crore each quarter. The carrier which has never made profit since its merger with former Indian Airlines has taken various cost rationalisation measures, including induction of efficient planes like the Dreamliner.Fuel cost is a cause of concern for all carriers including AI. Domestic airlines are paying atleast 70 percent more toward fuel purchase than global carriers due to high taxes. The government has allowed operators to import fuel to bring down cost, but again it would not be an attractive preposition due to logistics cost.Read This: Air India to resume 787 Dreamliner flights from Wednesday Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
