According to industry sources, Air India is close to a deal to order more than 200 Boeing jets, including 190 narrowbody 737 MAX and 30 widebody 787s, as part of a historic fleet shake-up roughly split with Boeing’s European rival Airbus.

According to the sources, the deal will also include an unspecified number of Boeing 777X long-range jets.

Separately, Airbus is negotiating a deal with Air India that will include at least 200 of its A320-family narrowbody jets as well as dozens of larger A350s, according to industry sources.

Boeing directed inquiries to the airline, which stated that it had no immediate comment. Airbus has declined to comment.

According to Reuters, Air India is close to placing orders worth tens of billions of dollars from Airbus and Boeing for 500 jets, including 400 narrowbody models, as it seeks a renaissance under the Tata Group.

According to industry sources, Airbus is expected to win a slightly larger share of the massive fleet replacement and expansion project.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that Boeing was close to placing an order for up to 200 737 MAX planes.

Many obstacles stand in the way of Air India’s ambition to reclaim a strong global position, according to experts, including aging domestic infrastructure, pilot shortages, and the threat of tough competition from established Gulf and other carriers.

(Adapted from Business-Standard.com)

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