Air India has placed an order for 100 more Airbus aircraft as part of its ambitious fleet modernization and expansion plans. The new order includes 10 A350 widebody jets and 90 narrowbody A320 Family aircraft, including the A321neo.
This latest deal builds on Air India’s February 2023 order for 250 Airbus jets, bringing the airline’s total Airbus order book to 344 aircraft. The carrier has already received six A350-900s and has selected Airbus’ Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) package to optimize the maintenance and performance of its growing fleet.
The FHS-C agreement provides integrated component services, on-site stock at Delhi, and access to Airbus’ regional spares pools, along with repair and engineering support for a range of parts.
“With India’s passenger growth outpacing the rest of the world… we see a clear case for Air India to expand its future fleet,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons and Air India. He emphasized the critical role the new aircraft will play in building a world-class airline.
Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, expressed support for the airline’s transformation efforts under its “Vihaan.AI” plan. “Through this continued partnership, we are committed to supporting the success of Air India’s transformation and the broader growth of India’s aviation sector,” Faury said.
Air India began A350 operations in January 2024, marking the aircraft’s debut in the Indian market. The A350 offers substantial benefits in fuel efficiency, operating costs, and emissions compared to older aircraft. Meanwhile, the A321neo—the largest member of the A320neo Family—delivers enhanced range and performance with reduced noise and fuel consumption.
In addition to its Airbus orders, Air India also placed an order for 220 Boeing aircraft in 2023, with 185 yet to be delivered.
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