Air India, a Tata Group-owned airline, on Tuesday signed purchase deals to acquire 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, going a step further in its $70-billion expansion program that it announced in February this year. The deal was signed on the sideline of the Paris Air Show.
Air India's orders span from 34 A 350 - 1000, six A 350 - 900, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 10 Boeing 77 X widebody aircraft, as well as 140 Airbus A 320 neo, 70 Airbus A 321 neo and 190 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody aircraft.
This landmark step further positions Air India for long-term growth and success that we have every hope, will come together to represent the best of modern aviation to the world, said N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons and Air India. Our ambitious fleet renewal and expansion programme will see Air India operate the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft across our route network within five years, Mr. Campbell Wilson, Air India's CEO, said in a statement. We are proud to be working with all our partners to rebuild a global airline that reflects India taking a more confident position globally. Satair, an Airbus company, will support Air India with a broad spectrum of solutions, such as parts and maintenance provisioning, digital applications, and Modification services.
The new aircraft will be delivered later this year, with the majority of the order to arrive from mid-2025 onwards.
To boost its fleet and network expansion, Air India has already started the delivery of 11 leased B 777 and 25 A 320 aircraft.
We are eager to be a key partner in the rejuvenation of the flying Maharaja. This is one of the most ambitious projects in the airline industry today under the leadership of Tata Group and a focused new management. We are proud that Air India has regained its rightful position as a world-class premium carrier, by reclaiming its rightful position as a global premium carrier. The Airbus services package is a perfect future-oriented choice that will form a core element of Air India's transformation, said Christian Scherer, chief commercial officer and head of international at Airbus.
The fuel-efficient mix of next-generation aircrafts such as the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner and 777 X will sustainably power Air India's future fleet in the world's fastest growing commercial aviation market, said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Air India's Tuseday move comes a day after budget carrier IndiGo announced a firm order for 500 narrow-body planes with Airbus.
The world's largest aircraft order has been placed by any airline with Airbus. The IndiGo order book includes a mix of A 320 NEO, A 321 NEO, and A 321 XLR aircraft.