Air India set to place biggest ever global order of 500 aircraft

Jumbo order to include short and long-haul planes 

- SWARAJ BAGGONKAR

A YEAR AFTER coming into the Tata fold, Air India is ready to flex its muscles through a fresh order for short and long-haul planes which will be the largest-ever in the world till date by any airline in one go.

The airline is likely to soon place orders for around 500 aircraft comprising Airbus A320neos, A321, A350, Boeing 737Max, 787, 777X and 777 freighters. These could come at a cost of $70 billion, as per rough estimates by market watchers.

While Air India is yet to officially declare details of its purchases, a senior company official had claimed in November that the airline will place 'historic orders' for aircraft soon for which it was in dialogue with Boeing, Airbus and engine makers.