Air India steps up jet orders with Boeing and Airbus upgrades
Boeing and Air India have announced that the airline has ordered 30 additional fuel-efficient 737 MAX jets, taking its Boeing order book to nearly 200 aircraft across both single-aisle and wide-body families. The expanded deal includes an incremental purchase of 20 737-8 jets finalised this month, while an order for ten 737-10 aircraft had previously appeared as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website. Both purchases exercise existing options, supporting Air India’s continued network growth as travel demand rises.
Alongside the Boeing expansion, Air India has also confirmed a significant adjustment to its Airbus programme. The airline will convert 15 of its existing Airbus A321neo orders to the longer-range Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range) variant. The conversion was announced on January 29, at Wings India 2026, one of Asia’s leading civil aviation events, held in Hyderabad.
This move forms part of Air India’s landmark Airbus orders placed in 2023, with an additional commitment in 2024, covering 50 twin-aisle A350 aircraft and 300 single-aisle A320 Family jets. Of the 210 A321neo aircraft ordered, 15 will now be delivered as A321XLRs, while the remaining 90 A320neo aircraft will remain unchanged. Deliveries of the new A321XLR fleet are expected between 2029 and 2030.
Together, the Boeing and Airbus announcements underline Air India’s long-term strategy to modernise its fleet, improve fuel efficiency and expand its reach across domestic and international markets.
