Airbus To Deliver First A350 Plane Under Air India's Mega 250 Aircraft Purchase Deal By Late 2023

Airbus will deliver the first A350 aicraft under its mega 250 plane deal with Tata-owned Air India by the end of 2023.

Air India had on Tuesday (14 February) ordered 250 aircraft, including 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets. 

The Tata-owned airline also ordered 220 aircraft from US aerospace major Boeing.

Air India's deal with Airbus and Boeing for combined 470 aircraft is the largest aircraft purchase deal in the aviation history.

In a statement, the European airplane maker said that its A350-900 wide-body jets will "mark a new era" for India as the "all-new, long-range aircraft" will make it debut in the Indian market.

"Deliveries are set to commence with the first A350-900 arriving by late-2023," the company said in the statement.

Airbus said that Air India's order aims to "both modernise and expand the airline’s fleet with the objective of creating a larger and premium full-service carrier that will cater to the growing travel demand in the region".

According to the company, A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient wide-body aircraft in the 300-410 seater category.

The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort.

Further, its new generation engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft, the company said.

The aircraft offers a 3-class configuration cabin and offers passengers and crew the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable long-range flying experience.

The A321neo is the longest-fuselage member of Airbus’ single-aisle A320 Family, seating 180 to 220 passengers in a typical two-class layout, and as many as 244 in a higher-density arrangement.

The A320neo is Airbus' short-to-medium-haul aircraft that typically accommodates from 140 to 170 passengers, with a maximum capacity of up to 180 travellers.

According to the company, A320neo's environmental performance allows for at least 20 per cent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions as well as 50 per cent noise reduction, compared to previous generation aircraft.