Carrier Purchases 10 A350 Widebodies and 90 A320 Aircraft

Air India, the flagship carrier of India, recently revealed its latest order for 10 A350 widebody and 90 A320 Family single-aisle aircraft to modernize its fleet.

The airline also announced that it has selected Airbus’s Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) full-service program for its A350s.

The latest aircraft purchase follows the 40 A350s and 210 A320 Family aircraft that Air India ordered in 2023. In total, the carrier has purchased 344 Airbus airliners. The new agreements aim to modernize Air India’s aging fleet, which currently operates around six A319-100s, seven A320-200s, thirteen A321-200s, and several other Boeing and Airbus jets.

“With India’s passenger growth outpacing the rest of the world… we see a clear case for Air India to expand its future fleet beyond the firm orders of the 470 aircraft placed last year,” explained Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of  Air India. “These additional 100 Airbus aircraft will help to position Air India on the path to greater growth and contribute to our mission of building Air India into a world-class airline that connects India to every corner of the world.”

Air India debuted its first A350 in January 2024, marking the widebody aircraft’s official entry to the Indian market. It is capable of flying up to 9,700 nm between stops, reducing fuel burn, costs, and emissions by up to 25%. 

Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) is the mega manufacturer’s full-service material and maintenance provider. It relies on a contracted hourly rate and intends to give Air India access to stock at its home base, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The service will also allow the carrier to slash costs and reduce aircraft downtime through complete technical support and airframe maintenance.

"Having personally witnessed the formidable growth of the Indian aviation sector in recent months, I am glad to see Air India renew its trust in Airbus with this additional order for both our A320 Family and A350 aircraft," expressed Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. "Through this continued partnership, we are committed to supporting the success of Air India's "Vihaan.AI" transformation plan under Tata's vision and leadership."

FMI: www.airbus.com, www.airindia.com