Air India Reveals Orders For More Airbus Narrowbodies, Widebodies

Air India has confirmed that it has ordered another 100 Airbus aircraft, further boosting its backlog after the carrier placed orders for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing last year.

The carrier’s latest order comprises 10 A350s and 90 A320neo-family aircraft. The order was previously attributed to an undisclosed customer, after deals for the aircraft were finalized in July and September, Airbus said. Media reports in October named Air India as the undisclosed customer.

Air India ordered 250 Airbus aircraft in 2023, comprising 40 A350s and 210 A320neo-family narrowbodies. Of these, six A350s have already been delivered, so with the new order it has 344 Airbus aircraft remaining in its backlog.

The carrier ordered 220 Boeing aircraft in 2023, of which 185 are still to be delivered. The airline’s Boeing orders comprise 737 MAXs, 787s, and 777-9s.

Air India currently has a fleet of more than 200 aircraft, including almost 150 Airbus narrowbodies, according to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database. The airline’s existing widebody fleet predominantly comprises Boeing 787s and 777s.

The A320neo-family aircraft on order are powered by CFM LEAP 1A engines; the A350s are utilizing Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

Air India also announced it has selected Airbus’ Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) offering to support the maintenance requirements of its A350 fleet.

“With India’s passenger growth outpacing the rest of the world, its significantly improving infrastructure, and an aspirational young population increasingly going global, we see a clear case for Air India to expand its future fleet beyond the firm orders of the 470 aircraft placed last year,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons and Air India. “These additional 100 Airbus aircraft will help to position Air India on the path to greater growth.”

Tata Group has been conducting a major investment program for Air India since taking over the carrier in early 2022. In November, Air India finalized its takeover of fellow Tata Group carrier Vistara.