Air India To Buy 250 Airbus Aircraft

Under the new ownership of Tata Group, Air India is all set to strengthen its fleet of aircraft. The company has contacted Airbus to buy 250 aeroplanes to bolster domestic and international operations. That count includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle planes. The remainder comprises 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets. The first one out of the lot, an A350-900, will be delivered late this year.

Here’s what Campbell Wilson, the CEO and MD of Air India, said in an official statement:

Airbus has been a longstanding partner of Air India, and these new aircraft will play an important part in delivering Vihaan.AI, Air India’s comprehensive transformation and growth strategy.

He further added:

This order marks the start of a new chapter for both Airbus and Air India.

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Christian Scherer, the Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at Airbus added his remarks about this development. He said:

This is a historic moment for Airbus and Air India. India is on the verge of an international air travel revolution. We are honoured that our partnership with the Tatas and our aircraft solutions will write that new chapter for the country’s air connectivity.

The Airbus A350 is the world’s most efficient wide-body aircraft in the 300-410 seater segment. Also, it boasts of being the quietest twin-aisle plane in the market. Moreover, the A350 offers a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn compared to the previous-gen model because of clever aerodynamics and the use of lightweight materials and new-gen engines. As a result, there’s a considerable reduction in operating costs and carbon dioxide emissions.

The A321neo, on the other hand, is Airbus’ best-selling single-aisle member of the A320 family. It offers seating for 180 to 220 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. However, in a higher-density layout, the plane can seat 244 travellers. The A320neo has a relatively shorter fuselage and can accommodate 140-170 passengers. The maximum capacity is 180. Compared to its predecessor, it produces 50 per cent less noise and uses at least 20 per cent less fuel.