Air India is reportedly in advanced talks with aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing to buy up to 300 new planes, including as many as 80 to 100 wide-body jets. The move signals a major push by the Tata Group to accelerate Air India’s transformation into a leading global airline.
According to people familiar with the matter, these discussions go beyond the earlier plans involving 200 narrow-body jets and 25–30 wide-body aircraft. If finalized, the new deal would be one of the largest aircraft acquisitions in recent years, further strengthening Air India’s international operations.
Neither Air India nor Boeing has commented on the talks, while Airbus stated that it does not discuss confidential negotiations with customers.
Earlier this year, Air India had already placed one of the world’s biggest aircraft orders in 2023. The new expansion plan adds another 300 aircraft to its long-term growth strategy, reflecting Tata’s intent to position Air India as a strong competitor to leading global carriers.
It remains unclear how many of the aircraft would be firm orders and how many would be options. The split between Airbus and Boeing, if the deal goes through, is also yet to be finalized.
The talks come at a sensitive time for Air India, which is still recovering from a tragic Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad in June that claimed 260 lives. Despite the setback, the airline is pushing ahead with its modernization efforts, aiming to rebuild passenger confidence and expand its global reach.
