According to sources familiar with the situation, Air India is nearing an agreement with both Airbus and Boeing to purchase up to 500 new aircraft, of which 400 would be narrow-body planes and 100 would be twin-aisle planes.
Reuters broke the news and said that the Delhi-based corporation is interested in the Boeing 777, the Airbus A350, and the Boeing 787. It would surpass the record order for 460 narrow-body aircraft placed by American Airlines in June 2011 if the last details are fulfilled in the upcoming days.
The same order also sparked the development of the 737 MAX, as the yet-to-be-announced aircraft at the time was described as the “expected new evolution of the 737NG [737 Next Generation – ed. note], with a new engine that would offer even more significant fuel-efficiency gains over today’s models,” American Airlines4 press release read at the time.
Air India’s low-cost division, Air India Express, is also interested in the Boeing 737 MAX. The airline, even if it is also taking into consideration the Airbus A320neo family, is seeking to complete an arrangement with 50 firm orders and 100 options for Boeing’s narrow-body jet.
