Air India today confirmed a record order for 250 aircraft from Airbus. This is part of a massive order for 495 airplanes to be completed soon framed in the transformation process being undertaken by the airline’s new management. The initiative will be spread over five years with the aim of developing the network and increasing the fleet after its acquisition by the Tata Group in early 2022.
The order announced today consists of 210 narrow-body aircraft (140 Airbus A320neo and 70 A321neo) and 40 wide-body aircraft (34 Airbus A350-1000 and A350-900), which Air India will use to cover ultra-long-haul routes, according to Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group. Deliveries will begin with the arrival of the first A350-900 later this year, which will also mark the model’s debut in India.
While the total amount of the deal is not yet known, it could exceed 70 billion dollars according to the latest list price made public by the European manufacturer.
As has been suggested for months, the purchase of almost half a thousand aircraft will be distributed between the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers: according to Reuters, an order for more than two hundred aircraft from Boeing, Airbus’s main competitor, is expected to be finalised soon.
The deals are almost finalised and only negotiations with the engine manufacturers remain to be concluded.
«This important deal shows, along with the deepening of relations between India and France, the successes and aspirations of the civil aviation sector in India», said Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Asian country, at a virtual meeting today in the presence of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. «Today, civil aviation is an integral part of India’s growth», Modi stated.
«Airbus has been a longstanding partner of Air India, and these new aircraft will play an important part in delivering Vihaan.AI, Air India’s comprehensive transformation and growth strategy», said Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India. «This order marks the start of a new chapter for both Airbus and Air India», he added.
«India is on the verge of an international air travel revolution and we are honoured that our partnership with the Tatas and our aircraft solutions will write that new chapter for the country’s air-connectivity», said Christian Scherer, Airbus CCO and Head of International.
New management and complete overhaul of Air India
At the meeting, Chandrasekaran said the new management is committed to «building a world class airline». He said that one of the main factors to achieve this is to have «a modern fleet which is efficient and can perform for all routes».
The company plans to add 21 Airbus A320neo and four A321neo from the first quarter of 2023 to reinforce its domestic and international short and medium-haul network. Next March, it will take delivery of three Boeing 777-300ER to operate flights between India and the United States. In recent months, the airline has already added five new Boeing 777-200LRs.
Air India currently operates 18 Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320 (27 of which are A320neo), 14 A321, five Boeing 777-200LRs, thirteen Boeing 777-300ER and 27 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The average age of the fleet is 10.2 years.
Air India Express has 25 Boeing 737-800s while Alliance Air, its regional subsidiary, operates eight ATR 72-600.
See also: Air India on track to order up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX
