The Indian airline is considering purchasing more Boeing 737 Max aircraft originally intended for Chinese carriers, taking advantage of the fallout from cross-tariffs between Washington and Beijing

According to press leaks and market analyses, Air India is actively evaluating the purchase of an unspecified number of B-737 Max aircraft previously ordered by Chinese carriers. A tempting opportunity resulting from the growing trade tension between the United States and China, culminating in the tightening of import duties by both countries and, as reported by official Chinese press releases (see AVIONEWS), in the formal order by the Beijing government to its airlines to suspend acceptance of further deliveries of Boeing aircraft. This situation has created a surplus of aircraft already ready or in an advanced stage of production at the American manufacturer's plants.

Air India has previously acquired 41 B-737 Max aircraft originally intended for the Chinese market. The current focus is on additional narrow-body aircraft, which would bolster the fleet of Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of the Tata Group engaged in a competitive challenge with India's largest airline, IndiGo. In short, this potential acquisition would represent a dual opportunity for Air India. On the one hand, it would allow the airline to accelerate its fleet expansion and modernization plans on potentially advantageous terms, given the stalemate in China. On the other, it would offer Boeing a partial remedy for the holdup of deliveries to a crucial market.

However, industry analysts warn that the operation could present some complexities. The internal configurations of the aircraft could have been customized according to the specifications of the Chinese companies, and some payments could have already been made. It will therefore be crucial to evaluate the feasibility of any modifications and the economic implications of the operation.

At the same time, great interest has also been shown by Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the holding company of Malaysia Airlines, which wants to grab the delivery slots that have become free (see AVIONEWS). This competition between non-Chinese carriers could temporarily mitigate the impact of the Sino-American crisis on Boeing, one of the main US exporters. The continuation of geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing would continue to favor Airbus in the Chinese market in the long term, risking excluding Boeing from one of the largest and fastest growing aviation markets in the world. Also favored is the Chinese domestic industry, which would experience a new impetus (see AVIONEWS 1 and 2).

In conclusion, it should be noted that these are just rumors at the moment, and there are no official statements from either Air India or Boeing.