DELHI
Seeing an increase in the business traveller numbers from India, the Indian national air carrier Air India is looking to opt for a two-class seat configuration in the 14 Airbus320 neo planes that it will induct into its fleet over the next few months as per reports in the media.
Air India last opted for the two class configuration four year ago. Since then, it had done away with the format on account of global economic slowdown.
The Neos will be leased from a Kuwait-based firm on a dry lease basis starting early 2017. They will have 160 seats with 12 in business class and the rest 148 in economy category, a senior Air India official is said to be quoted.
Air India may also phase out some of the older A320s once it has the Neos. Some of the present A320 are over 26 years old. Air India currently has an Airbus fleet of 66 aircraft – 24 A-320s, 20 A-321s and 22 A-319s.
Air India incurred a net loss of Rs 5,859.91 crore last fiscal and is expected to report an operating profit of Rs 6.20 crore this fiscal.
