The airline had bought its first jumbo jet in 1971 — a B747-200B named Emperor Ashoka — and for the final over 25 years is working the B747-Four model that has an prolonged higher deck. For many years, the jumbo jet has been the sky’s most sensuously curvaceous magnificence.
Three of the Four B747s in AI fleet (one is in no situation to fly) had been being primarily used for VVIP flights and common industrial ones when not utilized by the dignitaries. Last yr, the federal government bought two new state-of-the-artwork Boeing 777s as India’s desi Air Force One which will likely be completely used for the president, PM and Vice-President’s ultralong/lengthy/medium haul worldwide visits. Recently the federal government conveyed to divestment-certain AI that its requirement for the outdated warhorse B747s won’t be a lot for VVIP flights.
“We are planning to phase out the jumbo jets. The final decision will be taken by AI board, possibly in its next meeting. The planes are over 25 years old on an average and will be scrapped. Their residual value lies in the about 10 engines we have of these 747s that could fetch about $2 million apiece,” stated a senior official.
AI may very well be the one industrial Indian airline ever to function 4-engine plane. Vijay Mallya had ordered the 4-engine Airbus A340s for Kingfisher, however might by no means induct them within the fleet earlier than the airline shut down in 2012.
With the 747s, AI beneath JRD Tata had set new ranges of inflight luxurious. It launched a brand new “Palace in the Sky” livery and branding for this plane. The tastefully adorned staircase to the higher deck; jharokha inside flight panels; dewans and bar had been method forward of their time when launched onboard these stunning machines within the 70s by JRD.
JRD Tata in entrance of an Air India Boeing 747. (Photo: Tata web site)
The drastically decreased demand for air journey throughout Covid has shortened the industrial lifespan of even new-gen 4-engine passenger jets — B747, A340 and A380 — with airways utilizing them globally grounding them; drastically lowering their use or chopping brief their use-by interval — in favour of the frugal twin-engine medium/lengthy haul jets like B777, B787, A330 and A350s.
An outdated timer in AI Engineering, that maintains the Maharaja’s fleet, recollects that the higher deck of the B747 would typically serve play space because the play space with toys for then very younger Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi once they used to journey with their PM dadi Indira Gandhi.
In the final 20 years, the 747s had been used for industrial flights — together with one-cease to the US locations like Delhi-London/Frankfurt-New York/Los Angeles. The authorities would inform AI prematurely when the planes had been required for VIP flights and the seats within the decrease deck could be eliminated to make method for the dignitaries’ mattress and assembly space. Top bureaucrats travelling with the president, PM or VP would sit within the higher deck.
“These beautiful planes have served us very well. They had become expensive to operate when we got the new-gen B777 and B787s. They have truly earned their retirement,” stated a 747 pilot unable to disguise his feelings.