Air India (AI, Delhi International) has mandated Skytech-AIC to sell all four of its retired B747-400s.
The Indian flag carrier is seeking buyers for the following quadjets:
- msn 27165 (ex-VT-ESO), of 1993 vintage, and with 74,564 flight hours and 15,651 flight cycles, retired in September 2020;
- msn 27214 (ex-VT-ESP), of 1994 vintage, and with 76,236 flight hours and 15,818 flight cycles, retired in February 2020;
- msn 28094 (ex-VT-EVA), of 1996 vintage, and with 63,120 flight hours and 13,021 flight cycles, retired in March 2021; and
- msn 28095 (ex-VT-EVB), of 1996 vintage, and with 66,694 flight hours and 13,709 flight cycles, retired in February 2020.
All four aircraft are currently in storage at Mumbai International airport and were de-registered in India as of early 2022.
Air India used the aircraft in a dual role, deploying them both on its own scheduled services and as VIP government transports. The B747s were the carrier's last remaining quadjets and closed a history chapter including the operation of B747-200s, B747-300Ms, and a B747-400M, the ch-aviation fleets history module shows. Hindustan Aeronautics has been reportedly interested in the aircraft for potential conversions.