Air India presents its original A350 and B737 Max aircraft, originally designed for Russian and Chinese carriers. This is part of a large order of 470 aircraft that the Tata-owned airline placed in February.
The diversion due to sanctions accelerated the schedule, which is in line with Air India’s growth plan. The aircraft will join the fleet in September and December this year.
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Russian sanctions
The first batch of Airbus A350 that arrived at Air India was originally intended for Aeroflot. However, they could not be delivered due to sanctions against Russia. Similarly, 55 Boeing 737 Max aircraft ordered by Chinese airlines and lessors were remarketed due to a local government ban. China lifted its ban on the 737 Max earlier this year.
The sources said the B737 Max will be delivered in late October or early November this year, with the A350s following close behind. Air India’s order book includes 34 A350-1000, six A350-900, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 10 Boeing 777X wide-body aircraft. It also includes 140 Airbus A320neo, 70 Airbus A321neo and 190 Boeing 737MAX narrow body aircraft. In an industry characterized by production deadlines and limited delivery times, Air India’s rapid acquisition of these aircraft within months of the order underscores its strategic advantage.
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“At the last of the fourth quarter, we had about 20 MAX aircraft in our inventory. This includes 85 for customers in China and 55 that have now been remarketed as part of the plan discussed earlier. We still expect the majority of the MAX replacement aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2024,” Boeing CFO Brian J West said in a July 26 post-earnings conference call, acknowledging the ongoing reallocation.
Air India and Boeing did not respond to inquiries regarding this diversion. Employment of a pilot
Pilot hiring- Air India
Meanwhile, Air India has stepped up preparations for the upcoming orientation. Its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express (AIX) is actively increasing pilot recruitment and training.
Earlier this year, the airline announced plans to hire more than 4,200 cabin crew and 900 pilots by 2023 to support ambitious growth. Over the past eighteen months, AIX has had approximately 150 Boeing 737 pilots, with a significant increase in recruitment in recent months. New employees are attracted by attractive joining bonuses and flexible contracts. “150-odd pilots have been recruited from SpiceJet and a minimum of 18 from Akasa together with Igrua Flight Academy. We also have pilots from a Vistara subsidiary,” revealed an insider who points to various sources of recruitment.
To ensure seamless readiness, pilots undergo rigorous training, including an intensive three-day simulator program tailored to operating the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. AIX currently operates 750 flights per week with its current fleet of 26 Boeing 737 NG aircraft.
Air India Express plans to strengthen its domestic network with an emphasis on connectivity between South India and North India, especially in the Northeast region.