'Missing From Records, Found On Tarmac': Air India's 'Forgotten' Boeing 737 Finally Removed From Kolkata Airport After 13 Years

A decommissioned Boeing 737, formerly operated by Air India, has finally been removed from India's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata Airport) after sitting on the tarmac for 13 years. The aircraft, which had been 'forgotten' since its retirement in 2012, marks the end of a peculiar chapter in Indian aviation history. Its removal highlights challenges in asset management and airport space utilization within the Indian civil aviation sector.

The aircraft's operational history traces back to September 1982 when it initially joined the Indian Airlines fleet. Over its service life, it underwent several transitions, including a lease to Alliance Air in 1998. It returned to Indian Airlines in 2007, where it was repurposed for cargo operations. Following the merger of Indian Airlines with Air India later that year, the Boeing 737 was transferred to Air India and subsequently utilized by India Post for its logistics network.

Despite its long and varied service, the aircraft was officially decommissioned in 2012. However, it remained at Kolkata Airport, seemingly overlooked, for more than a decade. The recent removal action addresses the long-standing issue of the derelict aircraft occupying valuable airport real estate, clearing the way for potential operational enhancements at the busy Indian hub.