Air India subsidiary, Air India Express, announced on Friday that it has received the delivery of its first two Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft from the Boeing facility in Washington, USA. These deliveries are a segment of the 470 aircraft order recently placed by the Air India Group with both Boeing and Airbus. These deliveries come ahead of the merger of another subsidiary, AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), with Air India Express. Upon completion of the merger, the combined entity will function as a low-cost arm of Air India.
Details of the 470 Aircraft order
The 470 aircraft order includes a diverse range of models: 40 A350s, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 777Xs, 140 A320 neos, 70 A321 neos, and 190 Boeing 737 MAXs. Of the 40 A350s, six are A350-900 planes, with five scheduled for delivery by March 2024.
Air India Express stated that the addition of these new aircraft to its fleet will facilitate the expansion of its domestic and international networks.
As of now, Air India operates a fleet of 116 planes, which encompasses 49 wide-body aircraft. The fleet consists of 27 B787-8s, 14 B777-300s, 8 B777-200LRs, 14 A319s, 36 A320 neos, 13 A321 ceos, and 4 A321 neos.
Air India’s Airbus A350 integration plans
In his weekly message to employees, Air India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson announced that the airline’s first widebody Airbus A350 will enter service starting December this year. The acquisition of the first A350-900 aircraft was completed through a finance lease transaction with HSBC, conducted via the GIFT City, India’s inaugural International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
Boeing 737 MAX-8: Fuel efficiency and sustainability
Air India Express highlighted the fuel efficiency and technological advancements of the Boeing 737-8 aircraft, emphasizing their exceptional performance and passenger comfort.
These aircraft are a significant step forward in achieving more sustainable operations, boasting advanced technology winglets and efficient engines that result in a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. Moreover, they reduce noise pollution by 50% compared to older models and offer up to 14% lower airframe maintenance costs.
Tata Group’s airline business consolidation
In a broader context, Tata Group is in the process of consolidating its airline business. This involves the merger of AIX Connect with Air India Express and Vistara with Air India. Vistara, a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, holds a 49% stake in the carrier.
(With PTI Inputs)