The orders cover about 400 narrow-body jets and 100 or more wide-body jets, including dozens of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s and 777s, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity when the finishing touches were completed. All in the giant deal in the coming days .
Such a deal could run up to $100 billion at list price, includes every option, and ranks among an airline’s biggest deals in terms of volume, eclipsing the final order. merged 460 Airbus and Boeing jets from American Airlines more than a decade ago. Even after the significant expected price drop, the deal will be worth tens of billions of dollars and make for a tumultuous year for an industry that has seen jet demand return to the post-pandemic but are facing increasing industrial and environmental pressures.
Airbus and Boeing declined to comment. Air India, owned by the Tata Group, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This potential order comes days after Tata announced the merger of Air India with Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, to create a larger full-service carrier and strengthen its presence. carriers in the domestic and international skies.
That deal gives Tata a fleet of 218 aircraft, making Air India the country’s largest international airline and second largest in the domestic market after flagship IndiGo Air India, with its mascot maharajah, once known for its lavishly decorated planes and stellar service, but its reputation declined in the mid-2000s as financial troubles mounted.
Founded by JRD Tata in 1932, Air India was nationalized in 1953.
Tata regained control in January and has since worked to restore its reputation as a world-class airline. The planned order reflects a deliberate strategy to regain a solid share of traffic flows to and from India, currently dominated by foreign airlines such as Emirates.
Air India also wants to gain a larger share of international traffic in the region and the domestic market, setting up a battle on both fronts with IndiGo.
Delivered within at least a decade, these 500 jets will both replace and expand fleets in the world’s fastest growing aviation market, while also contributing to our goal of expanding the global aviation industry. economy to $5 trillion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, experts warn there are many roadblocks to Air India’s ambitions to restore a strong global position, including weak domestic infrastructure, pilot shortages and competitive threats. fierce competition with Gulf airlines and other airlines.
