In the past, I've taken AI a number of times between JFK and LHR when it was by far the cheapest option. However, I've grown tired of the old and often dirty interiors on their 744.
More recently, while I was looking for a flight to London in September, I noticed that the equipment is changed from the usual 744 to a 777. Now I know that AI is taking delivery of 772LRs and 773s this year with the 772LR already in service as well as it having a number of leased ex-United 772ERs. I was wondering what exactly the equipment change is going to be or if it's just a mistake in the timetable. I would be very tempted to book AI again if this flight (AI112) is now going to be operated with one of their new 777s.

The 777 does not go to LHR. Direct JFK-BOM

Actually, the 777s are being used in September between JFK and LHR on the AI112. There was one the other day at JFK, registration VT-AIJ, which is a former United 777-222ER, delivered to UA in 1997 and was parked for a while in 2004 before going to AI.
KVS shows good availability in all three classes.

I would be very tempted to book AI again if this flight (AI112) is now going to be operated with one of their new 777s.

The route will be operated by the old ex-UA 777s, the first aircraft other than a 707 or 747 to operate this service in 40+ years. They have swapped the 777s with 744s between the CDG/EWR and LHR/JFK routes now that the LR is running the BOM-JFK nonstop.

AI is refurbishing the interiors and entertainment stuff in the 747s to the same level as a new aircraft. Thats the reason I guess they are replacing the 747 for a month with UA leased 777. Once 747 is back, you can see the new interiors (they are spending really huge amounts to refurbish) and brand new entertainment.

FYI, AI 111 and AI 112 on 09SEP07 are being operated by VT-ALB, the latest delivery B777-237LR with the new inflight product.

As mentioned, these have the UA interiors. The seats in F are of a earlier generation suite/pod type, but still an improvement. The same cannot be said about J however - the UA seats are dismayal. The interior will be old - but perhaps not as dirty.

As mentioned, these have the UA interiors. The seats in F are of a earlier generation suite/pod type, but still an improvement. The same cannot be said about J however - the UA seats are dismayal. The interior will be old - but perhaps not as dirty.

To clarify of the 7 Boeing 777s currently in the fleet, 4 of them VT-AIJ/AIK/AIL/AIR have the old ex-UA interiors and operate on the DEL-LHR-JFK (AI 111/112) replacing BOM-EWR-CDG (AI 191/144), ATQ-BHX-YYZ (AI 187/188) and occasional AMD/CCU-LHR flights (AI 130/131/132/133/150/151).

The 3 newest 77Ls are VT-ALA/ALB/ALC and these aircraft are between 2-6 weeks old. They have the brand new AI product which is pretty much cutting edge hardware in all classes (for now). Two of these are needed for the BOM-JFK nonstop for now (AI 141/140) but the third aircraft may pop up substituting for the older 772s on the other routes. Right now one of the 763s (CS-TLQ) is in for heavy maintenance so the older 772s are being used to cover that schedule and the spare 77L will cover one of the 772 routes when needed.

Just following up on this thread.

AI112/111 ATQ-DEL-ATQ seems to be operating by 777 as per the AI Schedules.

Would you have any ideas as to whether these are AI's new state of the art a/c or the ex-UA birds - or is it too early to tell?

Also Sean, where would i be able to get some decent fares on these flights? Currently can't be priced on the AI website.

Would you have any ideas as to whether these are AI's new state of the art a/c or the ex-UA birds - or is it too early to tell?

Over the last few weeks it has been primarily VT-AIJ/AIK/AIR (ex-UA aircraft) on that route, but occasional subs by VT-ALB have been seen. 90% of the time though it is the ex-UA planes.

Hi all,

Here that I have recent AI is getting first new color scheme by 777-300ER is just in. Here the pictures was came in from a.net:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1276134/L/

What you guys think about AI is received first accepted delivered new 777-300ER from Boeing. How does sound good incredible from AI. Do you know which specifically AI will introduces first newest 777-300ER from BOM/DEL?

Thanks all! :)

AI is refurbishing the interiors and entertainment stuff in the 747s to the same level as a new aircraft. Thats the reason I guess they are replacing the 747 for a month with UA leased 777. Once 747 is back, you can see the new interiors (they are spending really huge amounts to refurbish) and brand new entertainment.

Am considering taking the 1-stop EWR-BOM later this month. Believe this is a 744. Any idea whether this is a refurbished 744 or is it the old UA 777?

AI just received one of the two 777-300 ERs it expects this month. They plan to deploy these two on DEL-LHR-JFK and Amristsar-DEL-LHR-JFK. According to press releases, these craft are configured with 4 seats in F, 35 in Executive and the rest in economy for a total of 342 seats.

Should be fun to fly. JFK is getting pretty much brand new equipment then. The LRs on JFK-BOM non-stop and now these ERs on JFK-LHR-DEL

Am considering taking the 1-stop EWR-BOM later this month. Believe this is a 744. Any idea whether this is a refurbished 744 or is it the old UA 777?I would think the old 744 (my upper deck seat once was so loose, I could shake it port/starboard/fwd & aft!) - don't know whether they would invest the money for refurbishment - they intend to have all their 744's out soon, I think... (2 were just scrapped about 8 months ago at BOM - sad to see - just torn apart and put on lorries here... :( )

... they intend to have all their 744's out soon, I think... (2 were just scrapped about 8 months ago at BOM - sad to see - just torn apart and put on lorries here... :( )

??? the 744s are from the early 1990s. The BOM scrap you saw were definitely not 744s.

See the airfleet of AI here: http://airfleets.net/flottecie/Air%20India.htm

Sean posted some detailled 747 fleet details recently.

??? the 744s are from the early 1990s. The BOM scrap you saw were definitely not 744s.

See the airfleet of AI here: http://airfleets.net/flottecie/Air%20India.htm

Sean posted some detailled 747 fleet details recently.I stand corrected - maybe I should have posted 747's and not 744's! :p

I stand corrected - maybe I should have posted 747's and not 744's! :p

So now that we have that straight... what is the 744 like?

Sean, On the ex-UA birds is the 'Economy Plus' section still around? If so does AI market that as a separate class of service or is it treated no different from regular Economy?

Over the last few weeks it has been primarily VT-AIJ/AIK/AIR (ex-UA aircraft) on that route, but occasional subs by VT-ALB have been seen. 90% of the time though it is the ex-UA planes.

So now that we have that straight... what is the 744 like?Hi Anand - I may have been riding on those "older" aircraft then, and *not* ( ;) ) on the 744's....I had better ask my mother then, as she loved it in J, but didn't like the delay at Heathrow waiting for her plane...

PS: I was one of the people who saw the FIRST AI 747 fly over Bombay as a child - a fantastic sight! (escorted by 2 fighter aircraft) & we have many friends who work and have worked for the airline - but I still prefer 9w at present!