AIR INDIA KICKSTARTS ITS TRANSFORMATION PHASE

The former national carrier has placed bulk orders with aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing for aircraft as well as for engines with Rolls-Royce, GE Aerospace & CFM

- AYUSHEE CHAUDHARY

AIR INDIA, INDIA'S FORMER NATIONAL CARRIER, HAS BEEN ON fire lately, going out and about its transformation phase. On February 14, 2023, Air India announced signing letters of intent with two of the largest global aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, to acquire both widebody and single-aisle aircraft.

On January 27, Air India completed one year under the Tata Group. In a government-led strategic divestment programme, the Tatas purchased a 100 per cent stake in Air India and Air India Express.

The joint order from Boeing and Airbus is the largest ever placed by any airline, as Air India prepares to relaunch under the Tata group with a more fuel-efficient fleet. Air India's historic 470-plane purchase will benefit not only original equipment manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing, but will also open doors for equipment and technology providers like Thales, which supplies avionics services to Air India. Air India's acquisition of 470 wide-body and narrow-body aircraft is valued at $70 billion, and the airline has invested between $400 million and $600 million on technology, platforms, and aircraft interior refurbishing.

THE FLEET

Air India is trying to extend its future fleet and advance its fleet strategy in the hope to service South Asia's fast developing domestic and international air transport industry in a sustainable manner.

Air India plans to add more than 90 planes to its fleet by 2025, including 56 planes from mega-orders inked with Airbus and Boeing. They will be in addition to the airline’s previously planned leases of 36 planes in 2022.