Next week, the flag carrier is anticipated to make the formal announcement.
After several months of waiting, Air India is said to have finally cut the ribbons on its sizable aircraft order with the European company Airbus. The contract, which is due to be confirmed next week, would see the Indian flag carrier place a final order for 250 aircraft. Such a declaration might be the perfect present from Air India to Airbus with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.
The Airbus A350’s first pilot?
There have been rumors that Air India may acquire roughly 235 single-aisle Airbus aircraft for the past few months, especially after Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson stressed that the two companies were finalizing their agreement. It appears that the numbers have subsequently been changed, though.
Forty of the roughly 250 planes that have been agreed upon with the European aircraft maker would be twin-aisle Airbus A350s, potentially making Air India the first Indian airline to fly the widebody. Airbus A330-200s were the only widebodies that the flag airline had ever used; they have subsequently been phased out of service.
The wider range of widebody aircraft than had been previously predicted will also enable Air India to enhance the size of its widebody fleet and gain an advantage over rivals. Less than 50 widebody aircraft are now operated by Indian airlines, which represents a complete waste of capacity at a time when demand is undoubtedly high.
Perhaps the icing on the cake is the fact that Airbus has several A350s that are fresh off the assembly lines and waiting for new airline owners. By the second or perhaps third quarter of this year, depending on when the contract is announced and the necessary steps are taken, Air India may start flying the Airbus widebodies. Who will put a huge order first?
The order with the European manufacturer will be significant in and of itself, apart from the likelihood of being the first Indian airline to fly the Airbus A350s. The last time Air India made a purchase was in 2005 when it bought 111 planes, including 43 from Airbus and 68 from Boeing.
At the time, the acquisition was thought to be worth $10.8 billion. Since the number is already much greater, the purchase from Airbus this year will undoubtedly be more expensive. And after Air India eventually completes the agreement with Boeing, which is anticipated to be for roughly 200 aircraft, the finalized deals with both manufacturers will make the overall massive order one of the most significant aircraft purchases in world aviation.
In addition to being a huge accomplishment for Air India and the aviation industry as a whole, this big order marks a first for the Indian aviation sector, which is expected to see numerous airlines place record orders over the course of the following few years. The probable numbers from other Indian carriers might result in anywhere between 1,500 and 1,700 aircraft being bought by 2024, with Air India making the first and possibly one of the biggest movements.
In conclusion
Despite the fact that this is the fourth week in a row that there has been talk of an Air India order, at least this time, the long-awaited order announcement is actually just one step away and won’t be made public for another week or so. The huge order, at least, on the Airbus side.
Overall, it will mark the commencement of the Star Alliance member’s much-anticipated fleet renewal and the start of a rapid transition in the Indian aviation business.
