When Air India got its first Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner in September
2012, the national carrier was in deep trouble. Just months before, the
national auditor had criticised Air India's purchase of 111 planes
mainly through debt. Relations between the airline's management and
staff unions were frosty. Air India hoped the new fuel-efficient
aircraft would help it cut losses on its international operations and,
in turn, place the airline firmly on the flight path to profitability.
That is taking longer than expected.
The Dreamliners have faced one problem after another ever since their induction into the Air India fleet. In January, the US Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all Dreamliners worldwide - Boeing is an American company - due to battery problems. The aircraft resumed operations in May. Since then, several aircraft have reported snags such as overheating of appliances on board, brake system problems, false alarms going off in the cockpit, windshield cracks and a falling fuselage panel. This has forced Air India to allay any safety concerns relating to the aircraft. These incidents have now raised doubts if Air India will be able to regain its lost ground on international routes on the back of the Dreamliners.
Air India, however, seems unperturbed . The carrier has launched an aggressive promotional campaign for the Dreamliners. "Do not rush to write an obituary for the Boeing 787 and along with it [that of] Air India," says an airline executive, who does not want to be named. Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan also defends the aircraft. "All new planes have initial problems. Once these teething troubles settle, the operations become smooth with time," he says.
Dinesh A. Keskar, Senior Vice President in charge of sales in the Asia Pacific and India, said the US company is working with Air India engineers to resolve the problems reported on the Dreamliners. Boeing has 979 Dreamliners on order worldwide. "Today, we are at 97 per cent dispatch reliability. All other Boeing aircraft have a goal of 99 per cent or higher. Our goal is to get there and we are putting all our resources to get there," says Keskar.
ABDUL WAHEED
PGDM 2nd YEAR
The Dreamliners have faced one problem after another ever since their induction into the Air India fleet. In January, the US Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all Dreamliners worldwide - Boeing is an American company - due to battery problems. The aircraft resumed operations in May. Since then, several aircraft have reported snags such as overheating of appliances on board, brake system problems, false alarms going off in the cockpit, windshield cracks and a falling fuselage panel. This has forced Air India to allay any safety concerns relating to the aircraft. These incidents have now raised doubts if Air India will be able to regain its lost ground on international routes on the back of the Dreamliners.
Air India, however, seems unperturbed . The carrier has launched an aggressive promotional campaign for the Dreamliners. "Do not rush to write an obituary for the Boeing 787 and along with it [that of] Air India," says an airline executive, who does not want to be named. Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan also defends the aircraft. "All new planes have initial problems. Once these teething troubles settle, the operations become smooth with time," he says.
Dinesh A. Keskar, Senior Vice President in charge of sales in the Asia Pacific and India, said the US company is working with Air India engineers to resolve the problems reported on the Dreamliners. Boeing has 979 Dreamliners on order worldwide. "Today, we are at 97 per cent dispatch reliability. All other Boeing aircraft have a goal of 99 per cent or higher. Our goal is to get there and we are putting all our resources to get there," says Keskar.
ABDUL WAHEED
PGDM 2nd YEAR
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