The State-owned air carrier Air India (controlled by the Tata Group) today finalized a purchase for 250 aircraft produced by the European manufacturer Airbus: these are 210 airplanes of the A-320neo narrowbody model and 40 ones of the A-350 widebody type. The order is part of an agreement to buy 470 planes, which should also include 220 of Boeing's American-built aircraft.

"This important agreement shows, along with the deepening of relations between India and France, the achievements and aspirations of the civil aviation sector in India. Today, civil aviation is an integral part of India's growth", said the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"This agreement demonstrates that Airbus and all its French partners are fully dedicated to developing new collaborative spaces with India", stressed French President Emmanuel Macron. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak echoes him, commenting on the Air India-Airbus deal, which involves Rolls-Royce engines: "By building commercial links with growing economic powers like India, we will guarantee companies of the UK to remain at the forefront of global growth and innovation".

The contract also includes a commercial partnership with the engine manufacturer CFM International (joint-venture between the American General Electric and the French Safran), which has been selected to supply 210 engines that will be on the A-320neo narrowbody aircraft, while the larger A-350s will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines.