Jet Jackpot: Air India Races to Grab Planes Left Behind by Chinese Airlines

Image Source: Mathrubhumi English

Air India is in advanced discussions with Boeing to buy around 10 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft originally destined for Chinese carriers, industry sources say. The planes were made available after Chinese carriers declined deliveries due to continuing US-China trade tensions and fresh tariffs on US goods.

Key Highlights:

The jets, already manufactured and waiting for customers, present Air India with a quick-fix way to increase its fleet, particularly for its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, which has been hit by delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus.
Air India had earlier cashed in on a similar predicament, buying 41 MAX aircraft awaiting delivery to China after the global grounding of the model in 2019.
The carrier is also looking to capture future production slots left behind by Chinese airlines in order to bolster its position against competitors such as IndiGo.
There are still challenges, such as reconfiguring cabins established for Chinese airlines and finalizing partial payments already made by the initial buyers, which may affect prices and delivery timelines.

If sealed, the agreement could see these aircraft integrate into Air India's fleet towards the end of 2025, complementing the airline's ambitious plans of domestic and global expansion.

Sources: Reuters, Economic Times, Times of India