"Today is a great day for Air India as the most technologically advanced and fuel efficient airplane in the world joins our fleet," said Rohit Nandan, Air India Chairman & Managing Director. "The 787 will allow Air India to open new routes in a dynamic marketplace and provide the best in-flight experience for our passengers."

Air India is only the fifth airline in the world to take delivery of a 787 Dreamliner.

This delivery is the first of 27 Dreamliners for Air India. The airplane is equipped with 18 business class seats and 238 economy class seats.

The 787 has the range and capability to allow Air India to deploy the Dreamliner on many routes including the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia.
"We are pleased to celebrate another historic moment in our nearly seven-decade long relationship," said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president of Asia Pacific and India Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "I am sure Air India and their customers will be thrilled to experience the revolutionary features on the 787, an airplane that will be the key focus of the airline’s turnaround plan."

Air India’s first 787 Dreamliner was assembled in Everett, Wash. and delivered today from Boeing’s South Carolina delivery center. The airplane is scheduled to fly to Delhi on Friday.
The 787 Dreamliner is an all-new airplane featuring a host of technologies that provide exceptional value to airlines and unparalleled levels of comfort to passengers. It is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes, enabling airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public.
 
Saudia issues RFP to the world’s airports

Route Exchange, the online platform for air service development, announced the commencement of a Request for Proposal (RFP) from Saudia who are using the facility to support their network growth.

The national airline of Saudi Arabia, based at Jeddah-King Abdulaziz International Airport, operates domestic and international scheduled flights to over 70 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
Mr. Mohammed Binhafeez, Senior Planning Specialist at recently rebranded Saudia said: "We are re-structuring our network and looking forward we aim to reach new destinations. In order to do that Saudia have invested heavily in an expansion of our fleet. Moreover, the opening of the new Jeddah airport in 2014 will make links to new destinations and our current network more efficient. We are using Route Exchange to reach new markets and welcome airports worldwide to join the process to demonstrate what opportunities exist from their markets to our bases."

Declan Maguire, Business Development Manager for Route Exchange stated: "The Saudia Request for Proposals represents an excellent opportunity for airports worldwide to pitch their route proposals directly to the planning team of a highly successful Middle Eastern carrier. Saudia are prepared to listen to any airport who can demonstrate strong demand between their market and their Jeddah and Riyadh bases. Saudia have specific intelligence requests of airports which are detailed in the full Request for Proposals (RFP) document."

Once airports have met the terms of the Prequalifying Questionnaire (PQQ), they will then be sent the formal RFP where they can complete a pre-defined data requirements and a proposal document. Saudia will then analyse the submissions before scheduling meetings with potential new airport partners at World Routes, The 18th World Route Development Forum which will take place 29 September ?C 2 October this year in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.