India’s federal government is committed to saving ailing national carrier Air India and clearing the airline’s huge debt, a senior civil aviation ministry official says. Air India has about 400 billion rupees ($9.07 billion) of debt, including 180 billion rupees in working capital loans taken from a consortium of banks and 220 billion rupees borrowed to acquire new aircraft. “The government is committed to Air India. We are bound by that commitment to revive Air India,” says Nasim Zaidi, secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Boeing 787 made its inaugural visit to India Wednesday morning as the airframer looks toward introduction of the aircraft into the fleets of some Indian airlines. There was a loud cheer by onlookers as the aircraft touched down and taxied to Terminal 3 at New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport at 11:10 a.m. local time. The aircraft, which can fly up to 16,000 km (9,600 miles) nonstop, is suitable for long-haul routes, such as Mumbai-Sydney, Delhi-Tokyo, Delhi-New York and Delhi-Toronto, says a senior Boeing official.

India will soon sign a bilateral agreement on aviation safety with the U.S., thereby opening a market for export of aeronautical products to the U.S. and other regions of the world. “The Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement will open up huge potential for investment. It will also usher in mutual acceptance of aeronautical products and parts developed in either country,” says Dr. Nasim Zaidi, secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.