Boeing 787s to replace Air India's A330 fleet

National carrier Air India plans to replace its Airbus A330s with with its newly-acquired Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on many international routes, which will help the company save on fuel.

The airline has successfully replaced the fuel guzzling Boeing 777s with B-787s on some international routes and is now planning to operate the Dreamliners on A330 destinations."We are planning to eventually replace the A330s with the 787s. The plans will be initiated by next year when the lease of the A330s runs out," a senior Air India official said.

"We are hoping to benefit from fuel cost savings that the 787 provides us. Apart from that there is a buzz about 787s. The new technologies it uses that will help us attract more passengers."

Currently, Air India has two-leased A330s which are mainly deployed to operate to Gulf and Japan. According to the official the decision to go with the A330 was a stop-gap arrangement till the 787s were inducted.

"The A330s were a stop-gap arrangement. As the Dreamliners got delayed and there was a urgent need to maintain market share to destinations in the Gulf and East Asia, the A330s were chosen," the official said.

"Now, with induction of 787s picking up, we will eventually replace the A330s on the Gulf routes and then on the Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong operations," the official said adding that the airline also utilises older Airbus A319 aircraft on some of these routes.