Air India orders 30 Boeing narrowbodies, converts part of Airbus order to XLRs

HYDERABAD, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Air India said on Thursday it had ordered 30 Boeing BA.N narrowbody aircraft and converted part of its existing A321neo order with Airbus AIR.PA to 15 long-range A321XLR jets, adding momentum to the flag carrier's turnaround efforts.

The announcement at India's civil air show in Hyderabad is a rare bright spot for the formerly state-owned airline, which has faced regulatory scrutiny after a deadly crash last year and a string of safety lapses.

Air India will buy 20 737 MAX 8s and 10 737 MAX 10s from Boeing, bringing its total orders with the U.S. planemaker to 250. The purchase is an exercise of existing options, Boeing said.

Converting part of the Airbus order to XLRs makes Air India the second Indian airline to buy the long-range jet, after rival IndiGo INGL.NS. Airbus said deliveries of the 15 XLRs are expected between 2029 and 2030.

Air India ordered 250 Airbus and 220 Boeing aircraft in 2023 after its purchase by Tata Group from the Indian government the year before. The airline ordered more Airbus aircraft in 2024.

The addition of the XLR, Airbus' longest-range single-aisle jet, is expected to give Air India greater flexibility to open less popular long-haul routes.

Securing new aircraft is crucial for Air India as it works to reverse years of under-investment under state ownership and recapture market share from global competitors.

Reuters reported last year that Air India was in talks to buy up to 300 new aircraft, including 200 narrowbodies, from the two planemakers.