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Indian Airlines to induct five Boeings

State-run Indian Airlines said on Friday that it was inducting five leased Boeing 737-200s into its fleet of 54 aircraft this month.

"The aircraft are being initially leased for three years. We might lease them for another two years after that," the airline's chief spokesman Robin Pathak said.

He said the aircraft were between 11 and 12 years old. Indian Airlines' current fleet has at least 20 ageing aircraft which are to be gradually phased out.

India's largest domestic carrier has been under pressure to obtain new planes after a Boeing 737-200 aircraft operated by subsidiary Alliance Air crashed in Patna in July.

The five new leased Boeings will be operated by Alliance Air.

Indian Airlines is planning to purchase between 35 and 41 aircraft to replenish and renew its fleet, at a total projected cost of Rs 90 billion ($1.95 billion).

The airline plans to add the new aircraft to its existing fleet over a five-year period starting next year.

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