With Airbus SE growing increasingly optimistic it may score a historic acquisition of approximately 50 A350 wide-body planes from Air India Ltd. during the event and Boeing Co. working on a deal for as many as 150 737 Max jetliners, the potential blockbuster deal of this year’s Farnborough air show still looms large.
According to persons familiar with the discussions, Air India is considering both Boeing’s narrow-body aircraft and the Airbus A350 aircraft as part of a fleet renewal under its new owner Tata Group. Airbus may find it difficult to develop a competitive offer for narrow-bodies due to the lengthy wait times for A320neo delivery slots, according to the people, who asked not to be named since the discussions were private.
The persons indicated that because the conversations were still in progress, the ultimate order totals might change. Although the airline may delay making an official announcement until August 15—India’s Independence Day—Airbus is attempting to finalise the widebody agreement at the exhibition.
The timing of an announcement, according to another, has not been determined. Air India recently engaged a chief pilot for the A350, indicating that the airline intends to buy the most cutting-edge aircraft from Airbus.
There’s also a remote possibility that Air India would really announce the Boeing portion of the agreement in Farnborough. Air India’s representatives declined to respond. Both Boeing and Airbus declined to comment.
According to the sources
A major narrow-body order in India would be a victory for both Boeing and its main rival in Europe. The country’s skies are dominated by Airbus, so any narrow-body victory for Boeing would help the US corporation gain headway in one of the aviation industry’s fastest-growing regions. A deal for the A350 would be significant for Airbus because it doesn’t have a single customer there for its widebody aircraft.
With more than 700 orders for the best-selling narrowbodies from the European manufacturer, IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., is the manufacturer’s greatest global customer. Aircraft are operated by other companies, such as Vistara, Go Airlines India Ltd., and AirAsia India Ltd.
Owner Tata Group Air India is exploring purchasing up to 300 narrow-body aircraft. From New Delhi, the Airbus A350 long-range aircraft can fly as far as the US West Coast.
The airline still maintains lucrative landing slots at the majority of major airports and was formerly well-known for its upscale services and commercials with Bollywood celebrities. However, it faces competition from foreign airlines that offer nonstop flights to India as well as from airlines that use Middle Eastern hubs for their flights.
The possible mega-deal of this year’s Farnborough air show still looms big, with Airbus SE growing more confident it may secure a historic acquisition of roughly 50 A350 wide-body planes from Air India Ltd. during the occasion and Boeing Co. working on a deal for as many as 150 737 Max jetliners.
As part of a fleet renewal under its new owner Tata Group, Air India is reportedly contemplating both the Boeing narrow-body aircraft and the Airbus A350 aircraft.
The people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were private, said that due to the lengthy wait times for A320neo delivery slots, Airbus may find it challenging to build a competitive offer for narrow-bodies.
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