Air India Expands Airbus Order with 100 New Aircraft

Air India has bolstered its fleet expansion plans with an additional order for ten Airbus A350 widebody jets and ninety A320neo Family narrowbody aircraft. This latest deal increases the airline’s total firm order book with Airbus to 350 aircraft since its privatization, cementing its position as a major player in the global aviation market.

While Air India has already taken delivery of six A350-900 aircraft, the timeline for the newly ordered planes remains undisclosed. The airline has not yet revealed the specific breakdown of variants within the A350 and A320neo families, though it confirmed that the narrowbody order will include the A321-200N variant. Airbus noted that these orders were formalized earlier in 2024 and have been recorded in its official order book for the year.

Air India’s growing order book underscores its ambitious growth strategy under new ownership. The airline’s confirmed orders with manufacturers include:

• Airbus:
  • 70 A320-200Ns and 140 A321-200NX (CFM International LEAP-1A engines)
  • 14 A350-900s (six delivered)
  • 20 A350-1000s
• Boeing:
  • 105 B737-8s
  • 50 B737-10s
  • 20 B787-9s (General Electric GEnx engines)
  • 10 B777-9s

In its current in-service fleet, Air India operates 101 A320-200Ns, 13 A321-200NX, and one A321-200NX(LR), further solidifying its commitment to modernizing its operations with fuel-efficient aircraft.

This expansion aligns with Air India’s vision to compete aggressively in both domestic and international markets. The diverse fleet mix will enable the carrier to enhance its long-haul and short-haul capabilities, catering to the growing demand for premium and budget travel options.

As the airline integrates its new aircraft, it is expected to unveil further details about its fleet deployment strategy, including the role of the newly ordered widebody and narrowbody planes. This substantial investment reflects Air India’s transformation into a leading global airline, poised to challenge competitors on key international routes while strengthening its domestic dominance.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com