Air India to phase out 11 old Airbus 320

Air India plans to phase out 11 of its 20-year-old Airbus 320 as it acquires new aircraft from the European aircraft manufacturer to augment its fleet, the airlines spokesman said on Thursday.

At the same time, it would be returning an equal number of leased aircraft, four of them this year, the spokesman said.

"Phasing out old aircraft is only natural because we have inducted 20 new Airbus A-319 and A-321 during the last 18 months and 15 more will be inducted into its fleet by 2010," he said.

The new aircraft are equipped with in-flight entertainment besides comfortable seats and more pleasant interiors, he said adding these aircraft would be deployed in the domestic sector's and neigbouring countries' destinations.

Air India is acquiring 111 aircraft at a cost of around Rs 44,000 crore (Rs 440 billion) from Boeing and Airbus. The delivery of these aircraft, which began in the middle of 2007, is expected to be completed by 2012.

Of these 111 aircraft, 43 would be from Airbus and 68 from Boeing. The Airbus fleet comprises Airbus A-319, A-320 and A-321 while Boeing fleet would be 737-800, 777 and Dreamliner 787. So far, Air India has inducted 48 of these 111 aircraft.