The three B-777s being sold now have a seat capacity of 238, including eight First Class and 35 Business Class seats.
While the commercial bids for these three five-year-old planes would be opened on May 13, the technical bids would be opened at a later date, the sources said.
As part of its turnaround plan, Air India is inducting the Dreamliners and going for a sale and leaseback arrangement to effect major savings. Under such an arrangement, the seller of an asset leases it back from the purchaser for a long-term and continues to use it.
The airline estimates it could raise about $840 million by selling seven Dreamliners and leasing them back. The money earned through the leaseback arrangement would be used to pay off the bridge loans taken against these aircraft.
