Dreamliners proved to be commercially viable: Ajit Singh

Performance of Dreamliners is satisfactory, says the minister

B-787 Dreamliner aircraft have proved to be commercially viable as Air India has earned a surplus of over Rs 18 crore in 52 days of its operation.

'Performance of Dreamliners is satisfactory and they are commercially viable. The profitability of Dreamliner aircraft for the period 19 May to June 30 was total revenue Rs 118.62 crore, surplus over variable cost Rs 18.08 crore and passenger load factor was 70 per cent,' Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh told the Lok Sabha today.

He said the aircraft is operating on Delhi-Bangalore, Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Chennai routes on domestic sectors, while Delhi-London, Delhi-Frankfurt, Delhi-Paris and Amritsar- Birmingham routes on international sector.

The flight operations by B-787 between India and Australia commenced today and Air India is planning flights to Rome, Milan and Moscow in the near future, the minister said, adding that the national carrier has ordered 27 Dreamliners of which seven have been delivered.

As per schedule, Air India is to get seven more this year, five next year, six in 2015 and two in 2016.