Expansion mode: Air India orders 100 more Airbus aircraft to fuel growth and worldwide expansion

News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 9th December 2024

Air India has ordered an additional 100 Airbus aircraft, including 10 wide-body A350s and 90 narrow-body A320 family aircraft, of which the A321neo will be delivered.

This latest order raises Air India’s total number of Airbus aircraft orders to 350, adding to the 470 aircraft ordered from Airbus and Boeing last year, according to a statement released on December 9. The earlier 2023 order consisted of 40 A350s and 210 A320 family aircraft.
In addition to the aircraft purchase, Air India announced a cooperation with Airbus to provide component and maintenance support for its A350 fleet. The newest order will continue to reinforce Air India’s expanding fleet, following its announcement in February 2023 of a definitive order for 470 aircraft, with

In June 2023, it confirmed an order for 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, 10 Boeing 777-9s, 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos, and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. In December 2023, the airline altered the order, replacing 70 A321neo aircraft with A320neo aircraft and reducing its A350 order to 20 A350-900 and 20 A350-1000.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, stated that with increasing air travel in India, developing infrastructure, and a youthful, aspiring population, Air India will need more aircraft than the 470 ordered last year. The additional 100 Airbus aircraft are critical to the expansion and aspirations of Air India as a world-class airline with global connectivity.

With this newest order, Air India now has 344 new Airbus aircraft on the way. The airline has already taken delivery of six A350s. Air India ordered 220 aircraft from Boeing in 2023, of which 185 are yet to be delivered. Air India has also chosen Airbus Flight Hour Services-Component to support its growing A350 fleet. This new materials and maintenance contract will improve the dependability and performance of Air India’s A350 aircraft by providing comprehensive technical services and on-site stock in Delhi.

Air India’s collaboration with Airbus continues, and CEO Guillaume Faury is pleased, as the extra order will contribute to the success of Air India’s “Vihaan.AI” transformation plan, which was begun under Tata’s leadership.