The first Air India Dreamliner arrives in Melbourne. Picture: Angie Basdekis Source: News Limited
The first Air India Dreamliner gets ready to touch down at Melbourne Airport. Picture: Angie Basdekis Source: News Limited
Baggage handlers prepare to unload the Dreamliner. Picture: Angie Basdekis Source: News Limited
THE first Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying passengers to Australia has touched down in Melbourne, marking the return of direct Air India flights.
Flight AI311 arrived at Melbourne Airport at 11.59am, 39 minutes behind schedule.
The 256-seat plane left Delhi for Sydney before continuing on to Melbourne.
Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said the new daily service was an aviation milestone.
"We are delighted to welcome Air India to Melbourne Airport" Mr Woodruff said.
Victoria has the largest Indian population in Australia, with numbers more than doubling since 2006.
"Melbourne also has the largest population of Indian students in Australia, and the new service will also provide opportunities to strengthen connections with the important education market,'' Mr Woodruff said.
Air India will fly Melbourne-Delhi direct four times a week and Melbourne-Sydney-Delhi three times a week.
It last flew direct to Australia about 20 years ago.
Melbourne will be the home of the Dreamliner in Australia, with the first of 14 Jetstar's Dreamliners expected to arrive in late September-early October and another two before the end of the year.
The Dreamliner program was grounded earlier this year because of problems with batteries overheating.
Jetstar must work with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to certify the plane, which is being assembled in Seattle, before it starts commercial flights in November.
"With components of the 787 partly manufactured here, Melbourne is proudly the home of the Dreamliner in Australia, and we look forward to welcoming more 787s to Melbourne," Mr Woodruff said.
The Jetstar Dreamliners will replace its current Airbus 330s on long-haul routes.
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