Air India is boosting its narrowbody aircraft fleet with the decision to purchase 30 additional Boeing 737 MAX, and will convert 15 current orders of A321neo aircraft with Airbus to the longer-range A321XLR.
Air India is boosting its narrowbody aircraft fleet with the decision to purchase 30 additional Boeing 737 MAX, and will convert 15 current orders of A321neo aircraft with Airbus to the longer-range A321XLR.
Additional Boeing 737 MAX Orders
Announced during the first day of Wings India 2026, the additional order of the 30 737 MAX comprises of 737-8 (MAX 8) and 737-10 (MAX 10). It will add to the firm orders for 220 aircraft Air India placed with Boeing in 2023, bringing the total to 250.
With the latest orders, Air India has a total of 198 incoming new aircraft from the US aircraft manufacturer. To date, the Gurugram, India-based airline has received 52 of the original 220 jets ordered in 2023. This includes 51 737-8 currently in service with budget subsidiary Air India Express, and a new 787-9 Dreamliner.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India,said: “This additional order for 30 Boeing 737 aircraft is part of our broader fleet strategy to position Air India firmly for the future, as a world-class global carrier that India deserves and the world expects. Building on our 2023 orders and subsequent additions, this order supports steady deliveries and fleet upgrades planned over the next few years.
“Air India’s order for more 737 MAX jets underscores the strong performance of their existing 737-8 fleet as they continue to expand connectivity across India and the South Asia region,” said Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Eurasia, India and South Asia. “We value Air India’s confidence in the 737-10 and 737-8 to provide the capacity and versatility they need as a cornerstone of their single-aisle growth strategy.”
A321XLR Conversion
Along with the order of the 30 additional 737 MAX jets, Air India also announced it will convert 15 orders of the Airbus A321neo to the A321XLR.
The conversion is part of Air India's orders for Airbus aircraft placed in 2023 and 2024 for a total of 350 aircraft – 50 widebody and 300 single-aisle A320 Family jets. Scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2030, the A321XLR conversion applies comes from the 210 A321neos ordered. The remaining 90 A320neo aircraft will be delivered as originally structured.
With the range and fuel efficiency provided by the A321XLR, Air India stated the new jets will enable the airline to open new non-stop international routes and optimise high-demand, medium-haul international services, with the flight economics of a single-aisle aircraft.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India,said: “The strategic conversion of a portion of our single-aisle Airbus aircraft orders to the A321XLR is in line with our effort of positioning Air India for the future. While we transform our current fleet at an accelerated pace with new and retrofitted aircraft, we are also carefully building our future fleet that, with scale and versatility, serves the rapidly evolving needs of travellers from and to India. We are happy with our strong partnership with Airbus, who continue to support our vision with the latest of aviation excellence.”
"Air India's decision to select the A321XLR is a significant endorsement of this game-changing aircraft. The A321XLR is proving to be a revenue generator by boosting frequencies, managing seasonality, and optimising capacity on medium-haul routes. We are pleased to see Air India using the XLR’s efficiency and range to open new opportunities and strengthen India's connections with the rest of the world," said Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President of Commercial Aircraft Sales.
To date, Air India has outstanding deliveries for a total of 542 new aircraft from a total 600 firm orders – including 344 with Airbus. Since becoming privatized in January 2022, Air India has added nearly 170 aircraft to its fleet.
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