Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 16: Air India of Tata Group, has placed an order for 840 planes with Airbus and Boeing, including the option to buy an additional 370 aircraft.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer for Air India, made the news the day after the airline announced it had placed a firm order for 470 aircraft, of which 250 were from Airbus and 220 were from Boeing.
In a LinkedIn post, Aggarwal said the airline is humbled by the excitement produced across the world by the company’s aircraft order.
“The order comprises 470 firm aircraft, 370 options and purchase rights to be procured from Airbus and Boeing over the next decade,” he said.
This airline will have placed one of the biggest aircraft orders in the history of commercial aviation.
He claims that this deal for 840 aircraft represents the culmination of an intriguing journey that started over two years ago with the privatisation of Air India.
“We have also signed up for long-term maintenance of the engines with CFM International (CFM), Rolls-Royce and GE Aerospace,” he said.
Additionally, Air India, which Tata Group purchased from the government in January 2022, placed its first aircraft order in more than 17 years. By the year’s end, the airline will receive its first A350 aircraft.
Aggarwal claimed on Thursday that the purchase shows the Tata Group’s desire to upgrade Air India to a top-tier carrier and connect India “non-stop” to all major cities.
“This order is also a testament to the tremendous economic potential unleashed by the Air India privatisation,” he said, adding that it is indeed a landmark moment in the history of Air India and Indian aviation.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described Air India-Airbus transaction as a ‘landmark deal’ that also reflects the deepening ties between India and France.
