UPDATE 1-Air India may lease up to 15 aircraft in 2008
(Adds details, quotes)
NEW DELHI, Jan 21 (Reuters) - State-run Air India is looking to lease 10-15 aircraft this year to replace ageing planes and after Boeing (BA.N) said there would be delays in delivering its new Dreamliner, a company official said on Monday.
Air India, which has a fleet of 140 aircraft, has placed orders for 111 aircraft with Boeing and Airbus (EAD.PA) (EAD.DE) to be delivered up to 2011.
It had hoped to receive four Dreamliner 787s in 2008 and an equal number in the first half of 2009.
"Due to Boeing 787 delays and phasing out of older aircraft, we are looking at 10 to 15 aircraft for leasing," V. Thulasidas, chairman and managing director of National Aviation Co, which runs Air India [AI.UL], told reporters.
Boeing said on Wednesday it would push back first test flight and deliveries of the Dreamliner by about three months, as it struggles with outsourced production of the new, carbon-fibre plane.
The Dreamliner, the fastest-selling plane in history, is now about nine months behind schedule.
Thulasidas said Air India had to phase out 14 aircraft, which it has delayed doing due to a shortage of planes.
"We have put out a request to all leasing companies and aircraft manufacturers to let us know how many and what kind of aircraft they can make available to us from 2008-11," he said.
Aircraft availability could become a major constraint going ahead, he said.
Boeing expects airlines in India to buy more than 900 new planes worth over $86 billion in the next 20 years on the back of strong passenger growth.
Rival Airbus expects Indian firms to place orders for 1,100 passenger and freighter aircraft valued at about $105 billion in the same period.
"Air India and the government in past had committed the mistake of ordering aircraft and then forgetting all about the need for aircraft for many years.
"I am sure we will not commit that mistake in future," Thulasidas said, adding the firm would finalise orders for new aircraft to expand beyond 2011 in 2008. (Reporting by Rakesh Sharma, Editing by Mark Williams)
