Air India now plans to acquire Boeing jets that were stuck in limbo. These planes were built for Chinese carriers. However, they could not be delivered due to US–China tariffs.
Tariff War Leaves Planes in Limbo
When Washington and Beijing imposed duties, Chinese airlines paused Boeing handovers. As a result, about ten 737 Max aircraft returned to the US. Now Air India will ask Boeing for these ready jets. Moreover, it hopes to secure future delivery slots if they open up.
Express Unit Eyes More Max Planes
Air India Express, the budget arm, badly needs extra narrowbodies. By June, it will receive nine more 737 Max jets. That delivery will bring its total to 50. Previously, it had taken 41 Max aircraft originally meant for China, after the model’s 2019 grounding.
Fleet Expansion Faces Delays
Meanwhile, Air India struggles with aging planes and supply issues. To cope, it plans to remove business-class seats on current jets. Then, it will convert them to all-economy by April 2026. However, supply-chain delays threaten that timetable.
2023 Order Won’t Arrive Soon
In 2023, Air India ordered 140 narrowbody aircraft from Boeing. Yet none will arrive before March 2026. Consequently, the airline must lock in any available jets now. Otherwise, it risks falling further behind market leader IndiGo.
Reassignment Challenges
Still, Boeing cannot instantly reassign all China-destined planes. Many already have cabin layouts set by the original customers. Also, prepayments may complicate resales. Therefore, Air India’s bid will face contractual and logistical hurdles.
