Whispered behind the doors of an opulent Victorian hotel near Buckingham Palace in London, the Air India Boeing and Airbus deal, was brought home on February 14, 2023. Scripting another chapter for history books, the venerable Tata Group used its Maharaja’s power and made the grade for 470 aircrafts from world's leading carriers, Boeing and Airbus.
From ‘the mother of all aviation deals’ to ‘deepening of partnerships,’ the Air India aircraft deal has brightened India's spot on the global aviation map, making the world leaders also congratulate the country and its leadership. Stirring the western influence-dominated world, this deal has also enabled countries like the United States of America (USA) and France to come forward, appreciate and recognise India’s space in the global skies.
In an address on the historic moment, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairperson, Tata Sons Ltd., said, “Air India is not just another project. It is a national project. There are huge expectations. We are going through a major transformation because we are committed to building a world-class airline known for safety, on-time performance, the best of Indian hospitality and modern fleet and a wholesome experience for every passenger, whether they are in the first row or the last row.”
The Air India Airbus, Boeing Deal – Explained
Air India’s historic Airbus and Boeing deal, announced via a virtual event, was not just a deal for words but was also attended by dignitaries like PM Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, the phenomenon Ratan Tata, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Air India’s MD and CEO Campbell Wilson and many more.
For those not familiar with the finer nuances of the deal, the Boeing order is for 220 firm jets. Announced by the US President Joe Biden, of these total jets, 190 are Boeing 737 Max single-aisle planes, 20 are 787 Dreamliners widebodies and 10 are the 777X, which is also the newest version of Boeing’s widebody, presently undergoing the certification process. Similarly, of the total 250 Airbus carriers, 140 are A320neo, 70 are A321neo single-aisle planes, 34 are A350-1000 and the remaining are A350-900 widebodies.
As far as the utility of these newly acquired Air India’s jets goes, the planes from the Airbus 320 family and Boeing 737 MAX are reportedly expected to fly domestic and short-haul international flights. The remaining dual-aisle planes will reportedly fly to Europe and the Americas, also signalling towards the importance of the remarks made by world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and USA’s Joe Biden.
Air India Airbus, Boeing Deal – How The World Leaders Reacted And Why
The Air India Boeing, Airbus deal comes at a time when India is actively pacing its efforts towards a $5 trillion economy. An aviation space that has seen the rise and fall of several carriers, is regardless, always open to some change.
As per several experts, at this point, Air India's aircraft deal is also a lifeline for both Boeing and Airbus to restore and gain some footing in the Indian market, one that is sometimes seen as a single-aisle jet space but is also welcoming towards the wide-body market.
However, as much as the companies and countries stand to benefit from the deal, as per some world leaders, so do the common people. At this point, the world economies are all eyeing a chunk of the pie, especially with regards to jobs for the common person.
Seeing merit in the Air India Airbus, Boeing deal, a White House statement referred to it as 'historic'. As per Secretary Gina Raimondo, the Indian conglomerate Tata Group-led Air India’s deal is very positive even for America as it is an opportunity for more job creation. At a time when mass layoffs and a global economic slowdown are the trends, this deal also comes as fresh air for the US-India ties, ties that will also foster better returns for the common person of the States.
“Today, Air India announced its purchasing over 200 American-made aircraft. That's Boeing's third biggest sale of all time and will support over one million jobs across 44 states. It's a win for American workers and reaffirms the strong relationship between our two nations,” wrote Secretary Raimondo.
Along with the United States, even French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the Air India-Airbus deal as a ‘new stage in India-France relationship.’ He wrote, “The contract that Airbus and Tata Sons signed this morning marks a new stage in India and France’s strategic partnership. Thank you @NarendraModi, for your confidence in France and our industry.”
The win-win Airbus-Boeing deal also received an applause from the UK’s PM Rishi Sunak. Taking to Twitter, the millionaire Prime Minister wrote, “This is one of the biggest export deals to India in decades and a huge win for the UK's aerospace sector. With wings from Broughton and engines from Derby, this deal will support jobs around the country and help deliver one of our five priorities – growing the economy.”
Meanwhile, as the 220 Boeing and 250 Airbus aircrafts make their way home, the Tata Group and Air India are busy roistering all the titles that language has to offer.
