Air India to lease three 777-300 ER from Singapore Airlines

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Air India will lease three Boeing 777-300 ER from Singapore Airlines as it expands its fleet modernisation strategy. These aircraft are in addition to the 11 777 leased aircraft and will be used to phase out the older 777-200 aircraft which were inducted in 2009. These aircraft have older cabins and often have been subject of passenger ire due to crumbling seats, broken lavatories and dysfunctional seat-back entertainment screens.

Air India has announced the sale of these aircraft. The three aircraft were retired by Singapore Airlines in 2021 as part of its wider culling of fleet after COVID-19 pandemic which hit business travel. An industry source said that the aircraft are stored in good condition and have four class cabins with first class and premium economy.

“The 777-200 are fuel guzzlers and can only seat 238 passengers. It makes no sense to refurbish those aircraft. Instead these 777-300 are maintained in best condition, have premium economy which can give higher yield while having 264 seats.

It will give a more premium feeling to passengers in the ultra-long flights,” said a person aware of the development. The premium-economy drive comes as traditional airlines—battling stiff competition from new low-cost and Gulf-based carriers—seek to boost overall fares and profitability. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 downturn, many companies have cut travel budgets and restricted travel in business class.

Premium Economy offers an option to them. Salt-to-aviation conglomerate Tata Sons which took over the airline’s ownership last year is currently upgrading the cabin of aircraft to increase passenger comfort by phasing out older aircraft and inducting planes with more premium cabins. As part of that the airline has