Tata group-owned Air India takes a big step in buying aircraft in the coming days to expand its operations. The aviation company makes the largest deal in history to buy a bulk of aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. It brings the number to 470 aircraft in total.

According to the statement from Tata, the order comprises 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777-9s widebody aircraft, as well as 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. The A350 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines and the B777/787s by engines from GE Aerospace. All single-aisle aircraft will be powered by engines from CFM International.

The first of the new aircraft will enter service in late-2023, with the bulk to arrive from mid-2025 onwards. In the interim, Air India has already started taking delivery of 11 leased B777 and 25 A320 aircraft to accelerate its fleet and network expansion.

France President Emmanuel Macron hailed the deal between AirIndia and Airbus and said The contract that Airbus and Tata Sons signed this morning marks a new stage in India and France’s strategic partnership.

Later in the evening, after Air India and Boeing agreement, US President Joe Biden called the agreement “historic”. “This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree,” a White House statement said.