PM, PREZ TO GET OWN PLANES BY EARLY 2020

New Delhi, March 12: India’s first set of brand new planes for the Prime Minister, President and Vice-President will be customised and be ready for use by early 2020, senior government officials said.

Two Boeing 777-300 ERs, bought by Air India recently, will be retrofitted to have VIP enclosures, a press conference room and a patient transport unit for medical emergencies.

The aircraft will also be equipped with Wi-Fi on board and have antimissile protection, a senior official said.

A Boeing 777 unlike the older Boeing 747, which were borrowed from Air India as and when a VVIP visited overseas, can fly non-stop to the US, thereby dispensing with the need to halt for refuelling.

In February and March, Air India inducted three Boeing 777 aircraft, completing an order of 68 planes placed with the aerospace major in 2006.