Airbus lands further orders boost as Air India firms up deal for 250 aircraft
Aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, continues to rack up huge orders at the Paris Air Show.
Yesterday (June 19) IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, set a record by placing a firm order for 500 A320 family aircraft.
Today, Air India has firmed up its order for 250 Airbus aircraft and selected an Airbus maintenance and digital package to power the airline’s transformation and growth strategy.
The aircraft order includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets. The airline had signed a Letter of Intent to acquire these aircraft in February 2023.
Air India will also be counting on Airbus to help ensure the highest level of fleet availability with the Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) from Satair, an Airbus company.
The Airbus-powered maintenance solution will ensure that every time the airline needs a rotable or a consumable part, it is readily available and stocks are automatically replenished. And in its transformation and digitalisation journey, Air India will be the launch customer for Airbus’s Skywise Core X3, the latest and most advanced aviation analytics platform. This once again demonstrates the avant-garde cooperation between Airbus and Air India.
Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said: “Our ambitious fleet renewal and expansion programme will see Air India operate the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft across our route network within five years. We are proud to be working with all our partners, including Airbus, in this journey to rebuild a global airline which reflects India taking a more confident posture around the world.”
Christian Scherer, chief commercial officer and head of international at Airbus, said: “We are excited to be a key partner in the renaissance of the Flying Maharaja. Under the leadership of the Tata Group and a focused new management, this is one of the most ambitious projects in the airline business today.
“We are proud that the efficiencies, comfort and range capability offered by our latest generation aircraft will contribute to the process, as Air India reclaims its rightful position as a world-class premium carrier.”
Airbus, which employs around 4,500 staff at its wing-making plant in Broughton, near Chester, also picked up orders at the air show from two other carriers, Philippine Airlines, and Australian airline, Qantas, who both lodged firm orders for nine aircraft.
Philippine Airlines wants nine A350-1000 long range aircraft, while Qantas ordered nine A220-300s.
Captain Stanley K. Ng, president and chief operating officer of Philippine Airlines, said: “This order will see PAL operating one of the youngest and most modern widebody fleets in Asia. We selected the A350-1000 to give PAL the power to match capacity closely to predicted demand on both the very longest routes to the North American East Coast but also on our prime trunk routes to the West Coast and potentially to Europe as well.”
