AI summons Boeing brass for poor 787s
Unhappy with the performance of the swanky new Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” aircraft due to “recurring technical snags”, a furious civil aviation ministry and Air India have summoned Boeing Corporation’s top brass to India, top aviation sources told this newspaper.
Sources said of the three Dreamliners received so far, one or the other aircraft is usually grounded at a time due to some snag. Such snags in new aircraft have puzzled the airline.
“Such snags in factory-fresh aircraft can affect Air India operations. We are concerned,” top government sources said. Sources also said Air India has sent an email to Boeing on the matter. A top Boeing team is scheduled to arrive in India next week, the sources said.
“The Dreamliner dream is beginning to sour,” the sources said. Boeing officials were unavailable for comment.
Sources said Air India had conveyed to Boeing that the image of the airline could take a severe beating if such snags kept occurring.
Air India's domestic market share has been increasing steadily over the past few months and an ambitious plan of international flight expansion was also worked out earlier.
The airline had earlier ordered for a total of 27 Boeing 787 dreamliner aircraft. The delivery schedule was also earlier delayed considerably. The first of the aircraft was inducted in the national carrier only in September this year.
These aircraft were earlier ordered with much fanfare for their formidable reputation of being one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the aviation market. “But we can take advantage of this only if the snags stop,” pointed out a government source.
“There were no problems like this when the airline received the Boeing 777s a few years ago,” sources added.
Air India had initially deployed the aircraft for important domestic routes so that pilots could complete more landings and take-offs with the aircraft.
But international flights on the dreamliner to Frankfurt and Dubai have also started.
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