It promises to be a dream flight for the over 200 passengers booked on Air India’s morning flight between Delhi and Chennai on September 19, on the newly acquired Dreamliner (Boeing787).
Flyers will be welcomed on board with some small mementoes. When the flight touches down in Chennai, a small puja will be performed before the aircraft heads back to the National Capital. After a gap of about three hours, the same aircraft will be used to operate a Delhi-Bangalore return flight.
The hype around the induction of the Dreamliner started a week in advance. Following full page advertisements in leading newspapers announcing the arrival of the “most modern and advanced aircraft in the world”, the airline also sent out mailers to travel agents introducing them to the aircraft.
With a configuration of 18 executive class and 238 economy class seats, the airline plans to continue with the Boeing 787’s daily service to Chennai and Bangalore till further notice.
Not only are plans afoot to launch a “dream fare” for travel on the Dreamliner, the airline is also planning to create a visual identity around the aircraft, which will be used in all official communication with the tagline ‘Dream Comes True’. Airline officials, however, caution that the promotions in the domestic sector will be a short-term affair as the aircraft will be operated in the Indian skies for a limited period. The real big promotional blitzkrieg will take place when the aircraft begins international operations in December.
As the business class on the aircraft is said to be on par with what most international airlines offer, the airline is also wooing various corporate houses. Travel industry sources say that mailers have been sent to corporates explaining its special features for the business class.
Some time later this month, after the airline gets delivery of the second Dreamliner, there are plans to launch services to other domestic destinations.