Air India Expected To Order Almost 200 Boeing 737 MAXs

Since first day of the fully privatised flag career, Air India undergone rapid transformation. Now TATA Airindia  is looking to finalise a deal with Boeing for more than 200 planes, with 190 being the Boeing 737 MAX, while 30 are 787 Dreamliner aircraft, according to Reuters. While the biggest Boeing 737 MAX order is going to be the airlines low-cost affiliate, Air India is looking at adding 200 more from Airbus A320 aircraft family. Unlike the 190 Boeing 737 MAXs that it is likely seeking, the flag carrier is presumptively looking at ordering just around 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Orders have been piling up for the big carriers too, like the recently placed massive order for 200 Boeing 787 Dreamliners by United Airlines, and this is yet another Boeing hit should a deal go through with Air India. Boeing Co is now offering some 737 Max planes that were once lined up for Chinese customers to Air India Ltd.s company, Bloomberg News reported in October, as the aircraft maker looks to unload some of the approximately 140 aircraft that it is not allowed to currently deliver. LONDON/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Air India is closing in on an agreement to buy more than 200 Boeing jets, including Boeings 190 narrow-body 737 MAX jets and its 30 broad-body 787s, as part of an historic shake-up in its fleet that is about split between it and Boeings European rival, Airbus. 

Talks have been heating up in recent weeks with management teams looking at changes including refreshing Air India Ltd.s long-haul fleet with Airbus SE A350s and Boeings 787 Dreamliner planes, as well as leased use of Boeing 777s for service on international routes. To replace Air New Zealands 777-200 fleet, Boeing Commercial Airplanes wants to boost the 787-10s MTOW to more than 13,000 pounds (6 tons) at 572,000 pounds (260 tons) with a few reinforcements and upgraded fuel systems. On June 15, 2009, at the Paris Airshow, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will have its first flight in two weeks. 

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a US-built, wide-body jetliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. On 11 January 2013, the United States Federal Aviation Administration completed its full critical systems review of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, including the design, manufacturing, and assembly. Air India sold to Tata Sons, which has undergone quite a transformation post-acquisition. 

Reuters reported on Sunday :

Air India was close to placing orders approaching 500 jets - including 400 narrowbody models - worth tens of billions of dollars from Airbus and Boeing as it seeks a renaissance under the Tata Group.

Industry sources said Airbus is expected to win a slightly larger share of the huge fleet replacement and expansion.