Day Two of the Paris Air Show has been busy for each Airbus and Boeing, with the American manufacturer securing its first order of the show. Air India signed letters of intent with Airbus and Boeing for 470 aircraft in February and has now signed purchase agreements with each manufacturers.
Done deal
4 months ago, Air India announced a then-record-breaking aircraft purchase of 470 aircraft, split between Airbus and Boeing. When announced, the carrier signed agreements with the manufacturers stating its intent to amass the aircraft but not purchase agreements, which were signed today on the Paris Air Show. The order includes each narrowbodies and widebodies from each manufacturers, with Airbus coming out on top, with 50 more aircraft than Boeing.
The Indian airline has placed a vote of confidence in Boeing, which had one more hiccup in MAX production in April, ordering 190 aircraft of the next-generation narrowbody family. The order is split between the -8 and -10 variants, the latter of which still must be certified. Air India became the eleventh customer for the 777-9 (777X), expected to be delivered in 2025, and added on 20 787s.
Airbus wins, again
Air India ordered 250 aircraft from Airbus to boost its fleet renewal further. Though the airline already operates a fleet of 27 787s, it has chosen the Airbus A350 family as the point of interest for the fleet renewal, purchasing 34 of the larger -1000 variant and 6 of the smaller -900. Moreover, Air India ordered 140 A320neos and 70 A321neos.
Christian Scherer, Chief Business Officer and Head of International, Airbus
The A350s will probably be the primary aircraft delivered between the 2 orders, with Air India expecting the primary this 12 months and the majority after mid-2025.
Photo: Airbus
Several Air India executives were present on the signings, Campbell Wilson, CEO, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and the airline, and Nipun Agarwal, Chief Business and Transformation Officer.
Campbell Wilson said,
Following IndiGo’s 500 aircraft order in Paris yesterday, two of the largest aircraft orders in history belong to Indian carriers as India has one among the world’s most rapidly-growing markets on the planet.
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