Air India in Talks to Lease 5 Boeing 777s to Air Canada

Air India Boeing 777

Air India is negotiating a deal to lease 5 of its Boeing 777 airliners to Air Canada as it works to reduce its operating costs as it phases in new aircraft.

‘“We are in discussions with Air Canada to lease out these aircraft,” Air India sources told PTI. A team of officials from Air India would soon visit Canada to discuss modalities like leasing cost, etc in this regard, sources said, adding that the deal may be finalized as early as within next two-three weeks.

The state-run AI had floated global tenders, offering five of its eight Boeing 777-200 LRs on dry-lease for 8-10 years early this year. Out of these, four were manufactured in 2007, one in 2008 and three in 2009. The decision to lease out the Boeing 777s came in the backdrop of planned induction of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the first of which is expected to arrive early next month.’

Air India intends to farm out these 777s that fly routes to the United States and Canada. AI plans to use the 787 Dreamliner for these routes, and will be taking delivery of these planes later in the year.

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