Air India firmed up its order of 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft worth $70 billion at list price. Air India had signed a letter of intent (LoI) in February to purchase 400 single-aisle and 70 twin-aisle aircraft from the airframe manufacturers, which will start entering its fleet in a few months. This also gives Air India options and purchase rights for another 370 planes, making it a potentially 840-aircraft deal.
The LoI was converted into a firm order at the ongoing Paris Air Show, when the Tata Group airline signed purchase agreements for the 470 aircraft - 190 Boeing 737Max, 140 Airbus A320neo and 70 Airbus A321neo (400 narrow-bodies) and 34 A350-1000, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 777X and six A350-900 (70 wide-bodies).
Tata Sons and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran said: “This landmark step further positions Air India for long-term growth and success that, we have every hope, will come together to represent the best of modern aviation to the world. ”
Akasa buys 4 more B737s
Akasa, the newest airline in India, placed a three-digit order for further aircraft before the year's end and added four more planes to its order at the Paris Air Show. “We are excited to add four more Boeing 737-8 to support our international expansion, taking our initial order of 72 aircraft to 76 to be delivered in the next four years. We are also on track to finalise another significant three-digit aircraft order and will be ready to announce it before the end of the calendar year,”Vinay Dube, Akasa founder and CEO, said.