Aftermarket aircraft broker AerSale (United States of America) will purchase four Air India (AI, Delhi International) B747-400s, according to The Economic Times. The acquisition ends a long marketing campaign to sell the aircraft, which last operated revenue flights for the flag carrier in 2021.
ch-aviation has learned that as recently as last week, only one of the aircraft had been sold, while agreements had been signed for the remaining three but those agreements remained unfinalised. UK-based remarketing firm Skytech-AIC handled the sale, and that entity's website reveals the aircraft are the 1993 built VT-ESO (msn 27165), the 1994 built VT-ESP (msn 27214), and the 1996 built VT-EVA (msn 28094) and VT-EVB (msn 28095). All four aircraft are stored in Mumbai International.
VMAN Aero Services is reportedly handling the transfer to AerSale, after which two of the aircraft will be converted to freighters and two parted out. ch-aviation has contacted AerSale and VMAN for comment.
Between 1971 and 2001, Air India operated a total of twenty-five B747 types, including nine B747-200Bs, two B747-300Ms, thirteen B747-400s, and one B747-400M. The type had a dual role as passenger aircraft on Air India's scheduled network and as VIP transports for the government.
