India-based Airlines - Pleasant surprise at IGI T3

After a 4.5 hour insipid flight on JetKonnect, COK-DEL (via HYD) there was little more than I wanted than to jump out of the seat and run home to my wife and cat. Infuriatingly, they decided to go park in the International terminal, which meant a wait to get off the plane, a wait for a bus where I didn't have to smell armpits, and then a molasses-like ride to Domestic.

However, while getting into International, I saw a very distinctive engine cowling on a plane

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Toothed_exhaust_duct_covers_on_a_Boeing_787.jpg/220px-Toothed_exhaust_duct_covers_on_a_Boeing_787.jpg

So distinctive that I jumped off my emergency 18F seat and sat at the edge, twisting my head (to the surprise of my co-passengers). I couldn't believe it, because I had assumed that I would have gotten a headsup on this forum. It was a JAL 787 Dreamliner, and according to Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Global-airlines-deploy-latest-aircraft-to-woo-Indian-flyers/articleshow/12944889.cms?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweets), was just started off on the DEL route, the first week of May.

It was this exact plane (not my pic sadly, because I' a neo-luddite when it comes to phones. Nokia 1100 FTW)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5335/6907580272_ca13c05e44.jpg

Thankfully, the taxiing and the bus ride to Domestic, took us quite close to the Dreamliner. Its a beaut, and oh the nose, the nose. For a moment, I was like the Druid from Asterix, admiring Cleopatra's nose (if someone gets that reference). Funnily, I didn't notice the windows being distinctive. If JAL were a Jet partner, I'd redeem my miles for DEL-NRT/HND in a heartbeat to get my butt on that plane. I hope ANA follows suit as well!

The news that JAL is flying to DEL has been covered so much everywhere that I never realized that it hasn't been mentioned yet.

Of course, seeing 787s around India won't be such a big deal soon - Air India is launching their domestic familiarization flights next month (one of the routes is DEL-HYD-DEL ^^^)

The news that JAL is flying to DEL has been covered so much everywhere that I never realized that it hasn't been mentioned yet.

Really? I must have my head up in the clouds more than usual. Didn't come across it on my usual newspapers - Hindu and Mint. I avoid TOI like the plague :D


Of course, seeing 787s around India won't be such a big deal soon - Air India is launching their domestic familiarization flights next month (one of the routes is DEL-HYD-DEL ^^^)

^ Either you or shahadil, do give a headsup of when. I'd love to be on one of these flights

Really? I must have my head up in the clouds more than usual. Didn't come across it on my usual newspapers - Hindu and Mint. I avoid TOI like the plague :D

Tarun Shukla, the aviation reporter at Mint, has been working on a different project for the last month or so - so Mint's aviation coverage went from the best in India to non-existant.

I haven't run across another newspaper which actually covers aviation properly (arguably the Mumbai Mirror, but that's about all I can think of), so if you're relying on the conventional media for this kind of news, it's not surprising you missed it.

The EconomicTimes carried an article about it recently:
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-04-30/news/31508436_1_dreamliner-boeing-jal-indian-market

JAL launched the 787 on their NRT-DEL route on May 1.

...I was like the Druid from Asterix, admiring Cleopatra's nose...

Oh, I miss A&O. Been ages since I've read about our favorite Gauls!

But wonderful reference to the Druid - I'm going to steal this one. :D

I have friends training at this exact moment, in Singapore for the 787. They should be coming back in a week, sit on the ground for about 15 days, and fly them Around the end of the month. But let's wait for the delivery first. Till its not here, it's not here.

But let's wait for the delivery first. Till its not here, it's not here.
Amen to that

I have friends training at this exact moment, in Singapore for the 787. They should be coming back in a week, sit on the ground for about 15 days, and fly them Around the end of the month. But let's wait for the delivery first. Till its not here, it's not here.

do you know the familirisation routes they are going with?

If anybody tells you today, that they know it, they are lying. I am planning on being the first revenue flight, (I will buy a ticket), and we will only know when they come. Will keep you posted. Cause no one knows a thing in air India.

If anybody tells you today, that they know it, they are lying. I am planning on being the first revenue flight, (I will buy a ticket), and we will only know when they come. Will keep you posted. Cause no one knows a thing in air India.

+1

Nobody has for sure what AI is going to do with these birds. I know a guy in route planning, and even he has no clue what the plan is. However, he did say that all familiarization routes will be DEL-metro city-DEL. Metro city could be HYD, BLR, CCU, BOM, MAA. Probably because those are the only routes which could justify the 787 capacity. Apparently DEL-KTM also may be considered, but that is less likely. Currently, the hope is that delivery will happen towards the end of this month (3rd or 4th week), and that familiarization flights will start in mid-June. That is subject to change of course.

Long term plans are completely up in the air as well. BOS is being considered (to my great happiness), but apparently some important guy at the MoCA is really keen on Australia service.

All these press reports spewing crap like AI is going to fly the 787 on BOM-FRA :rolleyes: are nonsense.

Does the 787 in AI's configuration have the capability to do a long distance US non-stop? If that's the case, I'd like to see JFK/EWR get one of these beauties.

PVD, I might actually switch to AI! :p

No, the change in config was because not enough people were paying to fly up front. It's called saving taxpayer money :)

As for JFK/EWR, those will probably remain 777 routes. However, there was some talk about Air India and US Airways entering a close codeshare agreement for USA-India a while back. If that ever turns out, you might start seeing 787s in Philly :)

...saving taxpayer money...

They still do that? Really? :p

...you might start seeing 787s in Philly :)

That'll be the day. One can hope, I suppose...

Does the 787 in AI's configuration have the capability to do a long distance US non-stop? If that's the case, I'd like to see JFK/EWR get one of these beauties.

PVD, I might actually switch to AI! :p

I suspect the 789s can do DEL-SFO/SJC. Now that I would pay for (or better still, BLR-SJC - Silicon Valleys' Shuttle Service:D). And there are a lot of desis doing business in/living near SFO/SJC that can (but unfortunately may not want to) pay to ride up front.

Let's not forget the 787 was taken to replace the 310's. And most of the 310 routes were middle east, Africa and far east.

Let's not forget the 787 was taken to replace the 310's. And most of the 310 routes were middle east, Africa and far east.

Which 787 variant is AI getting? If only for 310 replacement, then these won't be the long range birds.

All of AI's orders are for 787-8s

Range 14000 km, del-NYC nonstop is possible, albeit with some load penalty, however, not having crew bunk will mean some j seats not being available for revenue and along with the load penalty will not make sense, 6 hour flights would be perfectly ideal, which is what the 310 did, and they could take it upto 10-11 hours on a 3 crew.

I avoid TOI like the plague :D

don't we all????:D:D

Range 14000 km, del-NYC nonstop is possible, albeit with some load penalty, however, not having crew bunk will mean some j seats not being available for revenue and along with the load penalty will not make sense, 6 hour flights would be perfectly ideal, which is what the 310 did, and they could take it upto 10-11 hours on a 3 crew.

Thanks for the explanation. Sadly, on the same train of thought, I guess this means that PHL wouldn't make sense for them either. :(

You never can tell, in air India anything is possible, we operated a 319 on Bom sin with a load penalty , so instead of 122 pax, they sell only 90 seats, we lose money on this route, whereas to make money, all we need is pay airbus some money, and change the max take off weight to 70 or 73.5 tonnes instead of 68t. It was the same story with our 320's on this route before. We never sold all seats, whereas indigo carries 180 pax to sin because their 320 are capable of 77t whereas Ic is 73.5t . And this is not some major work, to change the weight. All you need is to give some more money. All legitimate but. So I will not discount any route, this is air India.

You never can tell, in air India anything is possible, we operated a 319 on Bom sin with a load penalty , so instead of 122 pax, they sell only 90 seats, we lose money on this route, whereas to make money, all we need is pay airbus some money, and change the max take off weight to 70 or 73.5 tonnes instead of 68t. It was the same story with our 320's on this route before. We never sold all seats, whereas indigo carries 180 pax to sin because their 320 are capable of 77t whereas Ic is 73.5t . And this is not some major work, to change the weight. All you need is to give some more money. All legitimate but. So I will not discount any route, this is air India.

With the current financial woes, don't you think AI is going to start cutting back on such loss-bearing routes rather than adding more?

9W I can certainly expect this from... AI as well, though?

9W I can certainly expect this from... AI as well, though?

lol, are they really that stingy? Not willing to spend a small amount of money to get rid of payload restrictions?

The reason AI does this is probably due to unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that handicaps AI. People love to comment about how AI wastes taxpayer money, but everyone seems to conveniently forget how much being a PSU costs AI.

Reading some Jitendra Bhargava (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/jitender-bhargavacostbeingpsu/390613/) should clear that up...

Well, in the middle they put a 777 on the route, so that they could make a profit out of it, unfortunately they never got more than 90 pax over a 4 month period. When questioned, the commercial department replied, we didn't know when they would replace 777 with 319, we didn't want to take Chances with extra pax on our head, hence we kept the lock at 90 pax.

Well, in the middle they put a 777 on the route, so that they could make a profit out of it, unfortunately they never got more than 90 pax over a 4 month period. When questioned, the commercial department replied, we didn't know when they would replace 777 with 319, we didn't want to take Chances with extra pax on our head, hence we kept the lock at 90 pax.

http://pontilex-wp-content.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/2010/10/Five-Mullah-Facepalm.jpg

although probably a wet dream for nonrevs.

I suspect the 789s can do DEL-SFO/SJC. Now that I would pay for (or better still, BLR-SJC - Silicon Valleys' Shuttle Service:D). And there are a lot of desis doing business in/living near SFO/SJC that can (but unfortunately may not want to) pay to ride up front.

Did you call? :D
Not again! I think BLR-SFO is just within range for 787-8, with lower loads. But I doubt it's going to happen anytime soon.

Did you call? :D
Not again! I think BLR-SFO is just within range for 787-8, with lower loads. But I doubt it's going to happen anytime soon.

Heh. Good memory, and yes, I agree it is wishful thinking. But one can hope...perhaps in an all-J config :D

Heh. Good memory, and yes, I agree it is wishful thinking. But one can hope...perhaps in an all-J config :D

Now now... AI and SQ are still a class apart. :p

Now now... AI and SQ are still a class apart. :p

Well, AI isn't going to dig themselves out of the hole they are in by aiming to emulate IT (or better still, COdbaUA). SQ would be a good standard to aim for (if not necessarily achieve).