Air India to purchase 220 Boeing aircrafts

This purchase will support over 1 million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree, said President Joe Biden.

Washington, Feb 14: Air India will purchase 220 planes from Boeing, underlining the surging demand for increased mobility in a nation with a swelling middle class.

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 news comes hours after Air India announced a similar order with European aerospace titan Airbus.

While announcing the Boeing-Air India deal on Tuesday, Biden also asserted that together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he was looking forward to deepen the ties between India and the US.

As per an announcement from the White House, Boeing and Air India have reached an agreement under which the airline will purchase 190 B737 MAX, 20 B787, and 10 B777X for a total of 220 firm order valued at USD 34 billion at list price.

The deal will also include customer options for an additional 50 Boeing 737 MAX and 20 Boeing 787, totalling 290 airplanes for a total of USD 45.9 billion at list price.

"I am proud to announce today the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through a historic agreement between Air India and Boeing," Biden said.

The Air India order is Boeing's third biggest sale ever in dollar value and second in terms of number of planes.

This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree, Biden said, adding that this announcement also reflects the strength of the US-India economic partnership.

"Together with Prime Minister Modi, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further as we continue to confront shared global challenges -- creating a more secure and prosperous future for all of our citizens," Biden said.

This announcement follows the inaugural launch of the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) last month. The initiative is aimed at expanding the strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and universities of the two countries.

Biden and Modi announced the iCET in May 2022.