NEW DELHI: Air India finalised deals for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing on Tuesday at the 2023 Paris Air Show as the airline displays its ambitious growth plans.
The carrier is buying 190 Boeing 737 MAXs, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 10 Boeing 777X jets with options for 50 more 737 MAXs and 20 Dreamliners, while its order with Airbus is made up of 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets.
The orders, worth about US$70 billion at list price, were announced in February this year.
Boeing said its Air India order is the largest in South Asia, a region where the US planemaker predicts significant passenger growth in the next two decades.
“A comprehensive set of aviation services will also enable Air India to sustainably expand its operations in South Asia’s rapidly growing aviation market. Over the next 20 years, South Asia is expected to more than triple its in-service fleet from 700 to 2,300 airplanes to meet passenger demand,” Boeing said in a statement issued in Paris.
Airbus in its press release noted that the Air India order marks the entry into service of the A350 in India.
“The all-new, long-range aircraft will help unlock the pent-up potential of India’s long-haul market,” the European planemaker said.
Deliveries are set to commence with the first A350-900 before the end of 2023, it added.
“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. We are proud to be working with all our partners, including Airbus, in this journey to rebuild a global airline which reflects India taking a more confident posture around the world,” said Campbell Wilson, Air India’s chief executive officer and managing director.
The formerly state-owned Air India was acquired by the Tata Group in January 2022. – BERNAMA
