Air India said it plans to maintain its policy of introducing 2-3 new aircraft to its fleet per month during the fiscal year beginning April 1, claiming that the global slump in demand "will be short-lived" and that traffic to and from India will rise "considering [the] improved business environment and the enormous potential" of India as a tourist destination. AI added 45 aircraft in the past 18 months and now operates more than 150. Thirty are scheduled to arrive during the upcoming fiscal year, including three 777-200LRs during the June-August period. It also said it will make Frankfurt its operational hub for transatlantic flights from the March 29 start of its summer schedule. FRA is a major Star Alliance hub. AI passengers from both Delhi and Mumbai will be combined at FRA for 777-300ER service to Chicago O'Hare or Newark. Nonstop Delhi-San Francisco service is scheduled to start in August.
ATWOnline
ATWOnline
