1:35 PM
New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Tuesday said Air India sold 21 aircrafts for USD 451.88 million during 2007 to 2009.
"17 aircrafts were sold on 'sale and lease back' basis whereas, four aircraft were sold on 'as is where is' basis," Patel said in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha query.
He said that the national carrier has leased 46 different types of aircraft from various companies across the globe and was paying a monthly rent of USD 18.945 million.
Air India's leased aircraft fleet includes different types of Boeing and Airbus airplanes.
"The average monthly expenditure of Air India before depreciation and obsolescence is approximately Rs 1,500 crores," the minister said replying to another question.
Patel said that Air India was taking various steps such as rationalising of routes, return of leased aircraft, reduction of contractual employment and employees at foreign offices and establishing international advisory boards to cut down its overhead costs.
In reply to another query, he said that 304 bird hit cases were reported during 2008.
Bureau Report
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