Air India Boeing 777-237LR VT-ALF Jharkand at New Delhi IGI airport. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal, all rights reserved. Used with permission.
Air India Boeing 777-237LR VT-ALF Jharkand at New Delhi IGI airport. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal.

Air India flies grounded Boeing 777 after 31 months, ahead of delivery to Etihad

January 12, 2015 1 Comment 720 Views

Air India’s newest Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH Maharashtra has finally flown after a gap of over 31 months after it was in storage since March 29, 2012. The test flight AI555 took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapathi Shivaji airport around 13:20 on Friday, January 9, 2015 and performed a series of race track circuits for about 100 minutes (1h40m) before returning at 15:50. During the flight, the aircraft was flown up to an altitude of 38,000ft.

Path of AI555 test flight of Air India Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH after 31 months in storage. Image from flightradar24.com.
Path of AI555 test flight of Air India Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH after 31 months in storage. Image from flightradar24.com.

In March 2014, Bangalore Aviation had first reported the once proud aircraft being left out in the open in a dilapidated condition and pathetic condition. Our story went viral around the world, becoming our single most popular article for the year 2014. (Read the story).

Air India Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH Maharashtra cannibalised at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji airport
A dilapidated Air India Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH at Mumbai airport. March 27, 2014.

We also reported when the airline repaired the aircraft, again with pictures on August 28, 2014. (Read the story).

Air India Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH. Previously stripped and cannibalised, now restored. Front view. Engines have been removed. Click for a larger view.
Air India Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH. Front view. Engines have been removed for safe-keeping.

While the airline vehemently denied it, it was later learnt that VT-ALH had been used as a “Christmas tree” to supply parts to refit the five Boeing 777-200LRs Air India sold to Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways. (Read the story).

The three remaining Boeing 777-200LRs in Air India’s fleet VT-ALF, VT-ALG and VT-ALH had been tendered for sale, though the airline, facing ill-informed political pressure, has now offered the aircraft only for lease. (Read the story).

Sources at the airline indicate that a deal for the last three LR aircraft has been concluded with Etihad Airways, and delivery should be effected within the next two months. Most likely once the fog season at Delhi completes and Air India can go back to using its 787 Dreamliners which at still not certified for low visibility operations by India’s civil aviation regulator, the DGCA. At present VT-ALF is being used for domestic flights while VT-ALG is in storage for a little over nine months now.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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One comment

  1. SSN
    January 13, 2015 at 03:22

    Thanks for keeping your readers like me up to date with these articles. Glad to know that the aircraft will bring in the much needed revenue to AI. Any word on the VT-ANI 787? Looks like its still in storage. What a waste.

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