The much-awaited Dreamliner Boeing 787 aircraft landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday on its maiden voyage to India. The test flight of the Dreamliner after a delay of three years has given hope to the Air India management.

The super fuel efficient aircraft landed from Tokyo and will travel to Mumbai later this week before heading back to the United States.

Air India has ordered 27 Boeing 787 aircraft and the first delivery of Dreamliner is expected in October this year and sources say that the pilot training for the aircraft will also begin next month.

Kamaljeet Ratan, the spokesperson of Air India said that the Dreamliners will be a big help and changing the current condition of the cash-strapped national carrier.

Air India plans to use the Boeing 787 to operate non-stop services on its existing routes in the United States. The airline also plans to start non-stop flights to Australia and Africa where it does not operate at present with the Boeing 787.

The fuel-efficient Dreamliner can carry upto 290 passengers and fly 15,750 kilometers at a stretch.

The first lot of Dreamliner is expected to operate on the Delhi-Mumbai-Melbourne route.

About the compensation which the Air India has demanded from the Boeing for late deliveries of the aircraft, Ratan said, “There is no communication in this regard from the Boeing company but Air India will surely take the matter ahead”.

About the turnaround plan of Air India Ratan said, “The government is firm to save Air India and in the GoM meeting on July 18 we expect a favourable step”.