PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden and welcomed the landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a “shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation”, according to reports.
Air India unveiled deals on Tuesday for a record 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing, accelerating the rebirth of a national emblem under new owners Tata Group as Europe and the United States hailed deepening economic and political ties with New Delhi.
The provisional deals include 220 planes from Boeing and 250 from Airbus and eclipse previous records for a single airline as Air India vies with domestic giant IndiGo to serve what will soon be the world’s largest population.
Biden called the agreement “historic”.
The Airbus order includes 210 A320neo narrowbody planes and 40 A350 widebody aircraft, which Air India will use to fly “ultra-long routes”, Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran said.
Boeing will supply 190 737 MAX, 20 of its 787 Dreamliners and 10 mini-jumbo 777X.
Together with another 25 Airbus jets to be leased to meet immediate needs, the overall acquisition reaches 495 jets, an Airbus executive said.Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the political and economic importance of a deal involving India’s former flag bearer.
Air India’s order tops American Airlines’s combined deal for 460 Airbus and Boeing planes more than a decade ago. The deal includes a major commercial win for engine maker CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and France’s Safran. It has been selected to power 210 Airbus narrowbody jets ahead of rival Pratt & Whitney, while bigger planes will be powered by GE or Britain’s Rolls-Royce.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce would create new jobs.
