The airline has the greatest pipeline of new aircraft orders placed by an Indian airline. Thanks to letters of intent inked with Airbus and Boeing.
The announcement of Air India’s order for 470 new aircraft, 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing. It made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday. They stressed that the deals will further “deepen our collaboration.”
70 of the 470 aircraft for Air India, which controlled by the Tata Group. It will be wide-body aircraft for long-distance flights.
The airline signed letters of intent with Airbus and Boeing. Making it the largest-ever pipeline of new aircraft ordered by an Indian airline.
Air India and Airbus announced the deal at a virtual event attended by Modi and Macron. Calling it a “landmark agreement”, Modi said it was an “important achievement” for the India-France strategic partnership.
Macron hailed it as a “new success” in the “aerospace sector”. He said there is a “historic opportunity” to come together.
Biden made the announcement on the Air India-Boeing agreement for “over 200 American-manufactured aircraft” later in the evening.
Statement released by the White House :
Biden said, “The United States can and will lead the world in manufacturing. I am proud to announce today the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through a historic agreement between Air India and Boeing. This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states. And many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership.”
“Together with Prime Minister Modi, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further as we continue to confront shared global challenges—creating a more secure and prosperous future for all of our citizens,” he said.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi and Biden had a “warm and constructive phone chat,” during which they “expressed delight at the development of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which has led to robust progress in all fields.”
“They welcomed the announcement of a landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries. The Prime Minister invited Boeing and other US companies to make use of the opportunities arising due to the expanding civil aviation sector in India,” the PMO stated.
“The two leaders welcomed the first meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) held recently in Washington DC, and expressed a keen desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in space, semiconductors, supply chains, defence co-production and co-development and knowledge and innovation ecosystems.”
The two presidents also pledged to keep in touch to guarantee the success of India’s current G20 Presidency.
The Airbus and Boeing purchases were place at a time when India was under diplomatic pressure from the West. Over the expansion of its imports of Russian oil in the wake of the Ukrainian conflict. Domestic manufacture also promoted on both sides of the Atlantic as part of a larger supply chain.