A few hours after Airbus and Air India announced a 250-strong aircraft order, Boeing followed suit with its own long-anticipated order, which turns out to be even larger. If all options are included, this takes the order to a total of 290 aircraft.
190 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (in both the -8 and -10 versions) are being ordered by Air India, along with 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 of the upcoming Boeing 777-9, the most recent version of the popular triple seven that is still in the works.
The agreement also includes a comprehensive services package that would last for several decades, 50 options for further Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and 20 options for Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Air India expects to put 470 aircraft into service after adding the orders from Airbus and Boeing. It is also one of the largest aircraft orders in history because it contains outstanding options for an additional 70 aircraft.
In any case, Air India and its owners, the conglomerate Tata Sons, are making a significant bet on the market’s continued expansion in India.
