Air India, the national carrier of India, has finalized a deal with Airbus for the purchase of around 250 aircraft. The deal, which is reportedly worth billions of dollars, will help the airline expand its fleet and modernize its operations. The deal is likely to include 40 wide-body Airbus A350s and Air India will be the first Indian carrier to operate the aircraft.
The source in the know also said the airline has signed a deal with Boeing for about 200 planes. Specific details could not be immediately ascertained and there was no immediate comments from Air India about the deals. The Tata group-owned Air India is expanding its operations as well as fleet. On January 27, Air India chief Campbell Wilson said the airline is finalising a historic order of new aircraft.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the deal includes a mix of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft from Airbus’s product line. The planes will be used for both domestic and international routes, and the delivery of the aircraft is expected to begin in the next few years.
It has not purchased a single aircraft since 2005 and the last order was for 111 aircraft — 68 with Boeing Co and the remaining 43 with Airbus — and that deal was worth USD 10.8 billion. The source told PTI that the deal with Airbus for around 250 planes has been finalised and the announcement is likely next week. The deal is likely to include 40 wide-body Airbus A350s and Air India will be the first Indian carrier to operate the aircraft.
Currently, Indian carriers operate less than 50 wide-body aircraft, an insignificant number for such a significant market. In contrast, Emirates alone has a fleet of over 260 wide bodies, CAPA had said. Recently, IndiGo started wide-body operations on the India-Turkey route with a wet-leased B777 and plans to induct two more such planes.
The acquisition of new aircraft is part of Air India’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its fleet and improve its services. The airline has been facing increasing competition from both domestic and international carriers, and the new aircraft will help it remain competitive and offer better services to its customers.
The purchase of these new aircraft is also expected to create job opportunities in India, as Airbus has agreed to set up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in the country. The MRO facility will be used to support the maintenance of the new aircraft, and is expected to provide employment to thousands of people in India.
The deal with Airbus is a significant milestone for Air India, and will help the airline achieve its goal of becoming a leading player in the global aviation industry. The acquisition of the new aircraft is expected to boost the airline’s operational efficiency, reduce its carbon footprint, and provide a more comfortable and convenient travel experience for its customers.
Air India has finalized a deal with Airbus for the purchase of around 250 aircraft. The deal is expected to help the airline expand its fleet and modernize its operations, and will create job opportunities in India through the setting up of an MRO facility. The acquisition of the new aircraft will help Air India remain competitive and offer better services to its customers.
