Air India deploys its 787 to Frankfurt

Air India is getting to grips with its new aircraft – the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and has successfully deployed it to regionally, to Dubai and now to its first European destination – Frankfurt

Flight AI120/A121 has been switched from a Boeing 777-200LR to a Boeing 787-8, with an increase in seating from 238 seats to 256 seats – a small capacity bump, but always welcome.

AI121 DEPART DEL 13:20  ARRIVE FRA  18:15
AI120 DEPART FRA 21:50  ARRIVE DEL 09:10+1

Booked Equipment: Boeing 787-8 (from Boeing 777-200LR)

Its taken time for Air India to accept the aircraft, but they seem to be making good use of them now. The airline currently has 3 787’s in their fleet, with 2 more to arrive this year.

The airline is also to expecting to receive the following quantities of 787’s over the next few years:

• 7 aircraft in 2013
• 5 aircraft in 2014
• 6 aircraft in 2015
• 3 aircraft in 2016

This will bring the Air India 787 cardre to 27 aircraft.

Seating on board is

• 2-2-2 in business, with 18 seats
• 3-3-3 in economy, with 238 seats

Air India is looking to deploy the 787 fleet far and wide, with other European destinations in mind as well as connecting India with Japan.

I said some time ago that 787 deployments would become as common as anything, and this prediction is slowly coming true. Still, it’s a novelty for those who haven’t been aboard a 787 yet.