Air India in talks with Airbus, Boeing for new major aircraft deal: Report

Air India placed a then-record order for 470 planes from both suppliers in 2023 and another 100 Airbus jets last year.

Tata Group's Air India is in talks with Airbus and Boeing for a new aircraft order including some 200 extra single-aisle planes, as Air India pursues a multi-billion revamp, industry sources said to news agency Reuters.

The ongoing order discussions, according to two sources, could encompass several hundred aircraft across different size categories. These talks build upon earlier reports of Air India considering an additional batch of large, wide-body jets, the sources told Reuters.

Air India, Boeing and Airbus all declined comment.

The news of a potential major aircraft order from Air India surfaced as global airline executives convened for an industry summit where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to speak on Monday.

Securing new aircraft is important for Air India, which is pursuing an ambitious modernisation effort to regain market share lost to international competitors.

The exact number of narrowbody jets under the new order was not immediately clear but two sources put it in the hundreds and one said it involved a provisional total of 200 narrow-body planes, which are the workhorse of aviation fleets worldwide.

In February 2023, Air India placed orders for 470 planes with Airbus and Boeing. The airline announced it will buy 250 planes from Airbus -- 210 from the A320 neo family and 40 A350s.

Later in 2024, Air India has placed an order for 85 more aircraft with Airbus, including 10 A350s, as the airline works on expanding operations, according to sources. Of the 85 airplanes, 75 are narrow-body A320 family aircraft and 10 wide-body A350 planes.