Indian airline Jet Airways is reportedly close to finalizing an order to Airbus for 50 aircraft with a total value of 5.5 billion dollars, according to reports. The order would include A320neo and A220 aircraft.
Boeing and Embraer are also in talks with the airline, which is in the process of reopening its services after ceasing operations in 2019. It recently obtained its operator’s certificate and expects to start offering scheduled flights by the end of the year.
According to reports, the European manufacturer has become the most likely supplier of new aircraft for the company. If it comes to fruition, it would consolidate Airbus’ dominance in the Indian domestic market, one of the most promising for the future.
«We are in final negotiations with lessors and manufacturers, and will announce our choice of aircraft and our fleet plan when we have made a decision», company representatives said. The airline’s new owners, Murari Lal Jalan and Florian Fritsch, pledged to invest up to 120 million dollars. «We are studying all possibilities», they added.
The company is set to revamp its business model. It would become a «hybrid-style» airline: it would adapt some practices to compete with regional low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet, but maintain its differentiated onboard class services.
Currently, Jet Airways has six aircraft available: two Airbus A330-200s, three Boeing 737-800s and one 737-900. The average age of the fleet is 16 years. However, it still needs to add several aircraft to begin to recover its previous network.
See also: Air India could be about to place an order for 50 Airbus A350s
