Airlines

Air India Revamps Aircraft Plans: Alters Order for 250 Airbus Jets

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According to sources, Air India, which earlier this year made an order with Airbus for 250 aircraft, has revised the agreement to include more A321neo aircraft.

Air India revised its contract with Airbus and will now purchase 140 A321neo and 70 A320neo. The deal for 40 A350s has also been modified.

The source further stated that Air India had modified the order from six A350-900 and 34 A350-1000 aircraft to twenty A350-900 and twenty A350-1000 aircraft. We frequently assess our orders depending on business needs and possibilities, and we make the necessary revisions to the contract, according to an Air India representative. “It is up to our customers to disclose this strategy.

While narrow-body aircraft are mostly used for domestic travel, they can also be utilised for short- and medium-haul international flights, wide-body planes are typically utilized for long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights. Compared to the A320neo, the A321neo can accommodate more people and has a greater range. In a similar vein, the A350-1000 can carry more passengers and go farther than the A350-900.

Air India has placed a combined order for 470 aircraft, of which 250 are with Airbus and the rest 220 were with Boeing. The Boeing order profile for Air India has not changed thus far.

Source

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.