Air India signs for 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft at Paris Air Show
Tata Group-owned Air India signed purchase agreements on the side-lines of the ongoing Paris Air Show yesterday, to acquire 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, furthering its $70 billion fleet expansion programme announced in February.
Above:
(left to right) N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, Campbell Wilson, Air India CEO & MD, Guillaume Faury, CEO, Airbus and Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, Airbus.
Courtesy Air India
Air India’s firm orders include 34 A350-1000, six A350-900, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s and 10 Boeing 777X widebody aircraft, as well as 140 Airbus A320neo, 70 Airbus A321neo and 190 Boeing 737MAX narrowbody aircraft.
Above:
(left to right) Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Ihssane Mounir SVP Global Supply Chain & Fabrication, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, Campbell Wilson, Air India CEO, Brad McMullen SVP Global Sales & Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Nipun Aggarwal, Air India Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer and Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Global Services.
Courtesy Air India
N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, said: “This landmark step further positions Air India for long-term growth and success that, we have every hope, will come together to represent the best of modern aviation to the world.”
Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said: “Our ambitious fleet renewal and expansion programme will see Air India operate the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft across our route network within five years. We are proud to be working with all our partners in this journey to rebuild a global airline which reflects India taking a more confident posture around the world.”
Satair, an Airbus company, and Boeing Global Services will support Air India with a broad range of solutions, including parts and maintenance provisioning, digital applications and modification services.
The Airbus A350 will lead the deliveries of the new aircraft later this year, with the bulk of the order to arrive from mid-2025 onwards.
Air India has already started taking delivery of 11 leased B777 and 25 A320 aircraft to accelerate its fleet and network expansion.
Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at Airbus said: “We are excited to be a key partner in the reinvention of the Flying Maharaja. Under the leadership of the Tata Group and a focused new management, this is one of the most ambitious projects in the airline business today.
“We are proud that the efficiencies, comfort and range capability offered by our latest generation aircraft will contribute to the process, as Air India reclaims its rightful position as a world-class premium carrier.
“The Airbus services package is a perfect future-oriented choice that will form a core element of Air India’s transformation.”
Stan Deal, President, and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes said: “The fuel-efficient mix of next-generation airplanes including the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner and 777X will sustainably power Air India’s future fleet in the world’s fastest growing commercial aviation market.”