Air India is expected to close a landmark order for as many as 500 jetliners worth tens of billions of dollars from both Airbus and Boeing, according to an exclusive Reuters report.
The orders may include as many as 400 narrow-body jets and 100 or more wide-bodies, including dozens of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s and 777s, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity as finishing touches are placed on the mammoth deal in coming days. Such a deal could top $100 billion dollars at list prices, including any options, and rank among the biggest by a single airline in volume terms.
Both Airbus and Boeing declined to comment. Tata Group-owned Air India did not respond to a request for comment.
The potential blockbuster order comes days after Tata announced the merger of Air India with Vistara, a joint-venture with Singapore Airlines, to create a bigger full-service carrier and strengthen its presence in domestic and international skies. That deal gives Tata a fleet of 218 aircraft, cementing Air India as the country’s largest international carrier and second largest in the domestic market after leader IndiGo.
