Air India’s first 787

Neelam Mathews
April 27, 2012

Air India is the first customer of the first Boeing 787 assembled at the company’s Charleston facility to be rolled out on April 27.

The Charleston second assembly building is spread across 642,720 sq. ft.Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh  and Boeing’s South Carolina VP and GM Jack Jones will be present.

Keskar to Head New Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Asia-Pacific

Posted by- Neelam Mathews

Jan 20, 2012

Dinesh Keskar, president, Boeing India, will now take on the new and expansive role of Senior Vice President, Sales Asia-Pacific and India for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. In this role, Keskar will head a sales organization, including contracts, marketing, revenue management and other support functions, says Boeing.

Keskar has been associated with the Indian market for many years and directly responsible for Boeing orders in India.

“This move is part of our forward-deployment strategy to ensure our sales teams are closer to our customers,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Keskar’s broad previous experience in the Commercial Airplanes Sales arena and his commitment to building deep relationships with customers will serve him well in this assignment.”

Keskar was appointed president of Boeing India in March 2009. Reporting to Shep Hill, President of Boeing International, Keskar currently represents all elements of The Boeing Company in India, where he has led Boeing-wide efforts focused on expanding the company's local presence and pursuing new growth and productivity initiatives. 

“India is an important market and a priority for Boeing, and we will continue to grow and strengthen our partnership with customers we serve and the many communities in which we work and live.  Dinesh will continue in his present role as Boeing India President until a successor is named,” said Shep Hill, president of Boeing International in a statement.

Boeing, the world’s leading aerospace-based company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined, has significantly expanded its footprint in India in both the civil aviation and the defense markets. The Boeing India corporate office is located in Delhi, and the company has a Research and Technology center in Bengaluru to collaborate with India’s technical talent for research in aerostructures, materials and network systems. Boeing is also partnering with India’s leading manufacturers to build a supply chain.

Kenya signs for B-777s

Posted by- Neelam Mathews

Oct 24, 2011

Kenya Airways fleet modernisation is moving forward with the carrier signing an agreement with General Electric Capital Aviation Services, (GECAS) the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, for the delivery of two Boeing 777-300s Extended Range (ER).

The two aircraft will be delivered in October 2013 and May 2014 and will operate long haul routes of Amsterdam, Bangkok, Guangzhou and Dubai.

“With the increased passenger and cargo capacity that the Boeing 777-300ER offers, we are pleased with this development as it will see Kenya Airways significantly increase tonnage and passenger capacity while enhancing our premium service offering to Europe and the Far East,” said  Kenya Airways CEO and  Group Managing Director Titus Naikuni.

“This also speaks to Kenya Airways’ efforts of flying a more efficient and environmentally friendly fleet,” he added. The Boeing 777-300ER provides increased passenger and cargo capability at lower seat-mile cost for long range markets.

“The B777-300ER aircraft will be operated by the same crew that fly the B777-200ER aircraft in our current fleet but we envisage that sufficient additional crew will be recruited and/or trained by the time the first aircraft arrive,” said Naikuni

“GE is focused on creating partnerships and providing a wide range of solutions that will support Kenya and the rest of Africa’s infrastructure transformation and industrial growth,” said GE President and CEO for Africa, Jay Ireland

Kenya Airways will configure its 777-300ER’s with approximately 400 seats which is an extra passenger capacity of about 78 passengers over the 777-200ER. In addition, the aircraft will offer higher volumetric cargo capacity of over 12 tonnes.

In April this year, Kenya Airways and Boeing Commercial Airplanes reached an agreement on the order for nine Boeing 787-8s with the first one expected to be delivered by the fourth quarter of 2013.