Air India bids adieu to 'your palace in the sky'
Air India has sold four of its last remaining Boeing 747-400 jumbo jetliners, marking the end of an era that had once thrust the airline to the global league.
People familiar with the matter said the four aircraft have been sold to US company AerSale, a supplier of aftermarket commercial jet engines and parts. While two aircraft are likely to be converted to freighters, two will be disassembled for their parts, the people said.
Vman Aviation Services, a Mumbai-based company, will manage the transfer of the planes to AerSale.
Used aircraft parts are a hot commodity as most still have plenty of remaining operational life but are much cheaper than new parts, resulting in cost savings for operators.
Air India's new owner, Tata Group had no intention to use the 747s finding them uneconomical to operate in current conditions.
Air India last flew the 747 between Delhi and Mumbai in March 2021. After acquiring the airline, Tata group had mandated UK-based remarketing firm Skytech-AIC to sell the four planes.
Air India had taken delivery of its first 747 on March 22, 1971. The aircraft entered service on May 21 of that year, with four weekly flights from India to London. It had 423 seats in a triple-class configuration.
The aircraft was also used to ferry the prime minister, president and vice-president till the Indian Air Force acquired two Boeing 777s in 2020.
The airline had back then debuted a new look in its aircraft exterior: silver and white with red details and windows described as Rajasthani style arches,
