Air India will take delivery of its first Boeing 787 in October, a company source has indicated, with a further three to follow before the end of the year.

The carrier will receive a total of seven by the end of March 2012, the source said. India's flag carrier has 27 of the type on order.

The airline will use the twinjets on its long-haul services, but the source was unable to say which aircraft they will replace as this is still in the "planning stage".

Air India's first 787, which is likely to be Airplane 25 from the Boeing assembly line, will be registered as VT-ANA, and is powered by General Electric GEnx-1B engines.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news