DGCA de-registers four jumbo jets of Air India

NEW DELHI: A question mark hangs over whether the Maharaja’s “queen of the skies” — his four Boeing 747 jumbo jets — will fly passengers again. The nearly three decade old aircraft have been de-registered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Comments from sought from AI on the future of these planes — whether they will fly again or be retired — were sought from AI and awaited till the time of going to press.
“The four B747s of AI have been de-registered,” said senior DGCA officials. They add if and when AI plans to use them again for commercial flights, it will have to undergo a return to service program leading to the re-registration of the aircraft.
Given the age of these planes and shortage of spares, it remains to be seen if AI jumbo jets fly passengers again.