Air India orders 30 single-aisle aircraft from Boeing
Hyderabad (PTI): Air India on Thursday announced an order to purchase 30 additional Boeing aircraft, comprising 20 737-8 and 10 737-10 jets.
These 30 single-aisle aircraft are in addition to the firm orders for 220 aircraft that Air India had placed with Boeing in 2023, taking the total number of aircraft orders with Boeing to 250, the carrier said in a press release.
The announcement was made at Wings India 2026 in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu.
With the latest order, Air India will have a total of 198 new aircraft incoming from Boeing.
So far, the airline has received 52 aircraft from the original 220 ordered in 2023, including 51 737-8 jets currently in service with its subsidiary, Air India Express, and one brand-new 787-9, which will enter commercial service on the Mumbai–Frankfurt route from February 1, 2026, it said.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, said the additional order for 30 Boeing 737 aircraft is part of the airline’s broader fleet strategy to position itself as a world-class global carrier.
"Building on our 2023 orders and subsequent additions, this order supports steady deliveries and fleet upgrades planned over the next few years," he said.
Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India and South Asia, said, "Air India’s order for more 737 MAX jets underscores the strong performance of their existing 737-8 fleet as they continue to expand connectivity across India and the South Asia region."
"We value Air India’s confidence in the 737-10 and 737-8 to provide the capacity and versatility they need as a cornerstone of their single-aisle growth strategy," he added.
Powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines, the Boeing 737 offers exceptional fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and operational reliability for robust single-aisle operations.
Since its privatisation in January 2022, the Air India group has added nearly 170 aircraft to its fleet through a combination of new deliveries, strategic leases, the merger with erstwhile Vistara, and the reactivation of long-grounded aircraft, marking significant progress in capacity expansion and fleet modernisation, the release added.
Begumpet Airport is hosting Wings India 2026, Asia’s largest biennial civil aviation event, running until January 31.
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BJP MLA Munirathna asks Speaker to ensure he gets protection
Bengaluru: BJP legislator Munirathna has requested Speaker UT Khader to ensure protection for him and cited instances when people threw eggs at him when he was on the streets, tore his shirt and also applied ash on his face.
Speaking during the debate in the Assembly on Thursday on the Governor's speech, Munirathna pointed out that Ballari witnessed violence following disagreement regarding putting up a banner and a flex and also urged the Speaker to ban the use of flexes.
“There are 138 bars in Rajarajeshwarinagar, the constituency I represent. FIRs are being filed against women who have been asking for the closure of these bars. Officers refuse to give people information on legal guidelines regarding bars and restaurants. I have filed about 1,380 RTI applications, but the officers have rejected the pleas,” the BJP leader told the Speaker.
Munirathna also complained that he had asked for protection as he feared that he could be attacked in his constituency, but was denied a gunman. “I had to appeal to the Supreme Court, which responded positively and directed that I be provided a gunman. I also had to request the Chief Minister directly, after which, a gunman was appointed for my protection,” he said.
The MLA accused Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of claiming that Muniratna's rival, who lost the polls from Rajarajeshwarinagar, was the local MLA and interfering in matters related to the constituency. “It is unbecoming of him to harass an elected representative and interfere in his works in a sadistic manner. Police officers are assigned to my constituency only if a complaint or a rape case is filed against the MLA,” he added.
