With Air India now changing its decision, SBI is shifting to their plan B for the grounded planes. (Representational Image) (Ohal/India Today Group/Getty Images)
With Air India now changing its decision, SBI is shifting to their plan B for the grounded planes. (Representational Image) (Ohal/India Today Group/Getty Images) 
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Air India Backs Out From Leasing Jet Airways Boeing 777; Cites High Maintenance Costs

BySwarajya Staff

Contrary to earlier reports, state-run Air India airlines have decided that they would not be pursuing the Boeing 777 jets from Jet Airways, NDTV reports. Air India finds it commercially unviable to bring them due to their high maintenance requirements.

"The engineering unit has done the work around the B777s and found no merit in taking them," an airline executive said.

Air India had shown interest in purchasing five wide-body Boeing 777 of Jet Airways on a dry/wet lease and also began talks with the lead lender of the grounded airline group, State Bank of India (SBI). The proposal was also discussed between Air India Chairman Ashwani Lohani and SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar.

With Air India now changing its decision, SBI is shifting to their plan B for the grounded planes. According to the report, an internal Jet Airways mail reveals that the Boeing B777 jets are scheduled for a maintenance ferry to Hong Kong on 10 May.