Air-India is planning to take on lease two Boeing 747-400s and two A310s by this year-end to meet its expansion plans.
"We are taking an additional Boeing 747-400 to make the aircraft from our fleet available for VVIP flights replacing the present 747-200," K Roy Paul, secretary, civil aviation and A-I chairman told newspersons in Mumbai on Saturday.
"By getting two aircraft, we are ensuring that there is no impact on the flight schedule in case a 747-400 is used for VVIP flights," he added.
The airline has so far taken one 747-400 and nine A310s on lease.
With 747s, the airline is planning to expand its flights to the United States with a daily service to Newark (as against five at present) and a possible service to Los Angeles via Frankfurt, Jitendra Bhargava, public relations director, said.
The additional aircraft will help to meet the seven per cent growth targeted for this fiscal, he added.
Paul said the board would meet again within a month to decide on the Capt Hathi committee report for the acquisition of 10 long-range aircrafts and 18 short-range jets.
Bhargava said the airline might dispose off the three 747-200s as and when additional leased aircraft are inducted.