Air India has placed an additional order for 85 Airbus jets, continuing its efforts to revitalize its fleet. This comes on the heels of a historic aircraft order last year, which included planes from both Airbus and Boeing.
According to industry sources, the recent order consists of 75 Airbus A320-family jets, designed for short- to medium-haul flights, and 10 long-haul A350 aircraft. While Airbus confirmed that an unnamed customer had placed the order, the sources identified Air India as the buyer. This latest order may soon be matched by a similar top-up order from Boeing, further bolstering Air India’s expanding fleet.
Tata Group-owned Air India has been undergoing a major transformation since being acquired by the Tata conglomerate, with significant investments in upgrading its operations and fleet. Air India was not immediately available to comment on the deal, which was initially reported by Bloomberg.
Airbus’s announcement of the order came just before Tata Group revealed the passing of former chairman Ratan Tata, a key figure in the company’s history. While Airbus declined to comment further on the specifics of the deal, the timing of the announcement underscores the importance of this ongoing partnership.
This additional order is seen as part of Air India’s broader strategy to modernize its fleet and compete more effectively with other major airlines on both domestic and international routes. The acquisition of new planes, particularly the long-haul A350s, will help Air India strengthen its presence in international markets, while the A320-family jets will enhance its capacity on regional routes.
(With PTI inputs)