Tuesday, June 28 2005 18:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Air-India has once again floated global tenders to take on lease four more Boeing 777s to step up its flights to US and Canada even as it is talking to Jet Airways to take its A340-300 aircraft on lease for one month.

The airline, which plans to launch direct flights to San Francisco and connect Toronto daily as early as possible, has sought the aircraft on lease for three or five year period.

The airline already has three Boeing 777s on lease and is seeking for more to increase its flights to Toronto, which is served thrice a week, and open a new service to San Francisco, the fifth destination in the US.

Air-India has seen a 20 per cent growth in traffic during the last one year and presently operates a total of 28 flights a week to New York, Newark, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The bids, for either 777-200 ERs (extended range) or 777-300ERs, are to be submitted by July 12, A-I sources said.

Meanwhile, Air-India is in discussions with Jet Airways to take on wet lease (aircraft and crew) one Airbus A340 aircraft on lease for one month to operate flights to London and Europe as one Boeing 747-400 is to be withdrawn for VVIP flights next month.

Air-India plans to operate around 25 flights with the leased aircraft in July, sources said.

Jet Airways has three A340s on lease from South African Airways and is presently flying only to London while it is awaiting clearances from the US Department of Transport for introducing daily services from Mumbai to Newark via Brussels.

According to industry sources dry lease rentals for such aircraft are upwards of $1 million a month.