Air India to Purchase 40 Wide-Body Aircraft; In Talks with Boeing and Airbus
Air India is in discussions with Boeing and Airbus to acquire 30 to 40 wide-body aircraft, with the deal potentially extending to over 50 planes. The purchase may include Airbus A350 and Boeing 777x models, further strengthening the airline’s modernization plans.
According to reports, the final structure of the deal is expected to be announced at the Paris Air Show in June. In 2023, Air India placed an order for 470 aircraft, including 100 Airbus planes, mostly single-aisle aircraft. This new deal, however, will focus on wide-body aircraft to enhance long-haul operations.
₹6 Lakh Crore Order for 470 Aircraft
Two years ago, Air India placed an order worth approximately $70 billion (around ₹6 lakh crore) for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. Under this deal, the airline will receive 250 aircraft from Airbus and 220 from Boeing.
The Airbus agreement includes 40 wide-body A350 aircraft and 210 single-aisle A320neo aircraft. The Boeing deal, valued at $34 billion (around ₹2.9 lakh crore), includes 190 B737 MAX aircraft, 20 B787 aircraft, and 10 B777x aircraft.
Air India’s Growth and Expansion
Since its privatization on January 27, 2022, Air India has been under the Tata Group’s ownership, which acquired the airline for ₹18,000 crore. The airline currently operates:
- 59 non-stop international flights
- Services to 79 destinations worldwide
- A fleet of 128 narrow and wide-body aircraft
- A workforce of over 12,000 employees
With this new aircraft acquisition, Air India aims to strengthen its global network and enhance passenger experience on international routes.
