Air India, India’s national carrier, has sealed the biggest deal in aviation history. The airline has agreed to purchase 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing in a multibillion-dollar deal. This move is part of Air India’s effort to reinvent itself by expanding its operations and modernising its fleet.
The news of the deal has been met with enthusiasm from world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a “new success”, while US President Joe Biden said the Boeing order would support more than one million American jobs. But will this be a game-changer for India’s travel industry?
To answer this question, Inside Story invited three guests: Andrew Charlton, managing director of Aviation Advocacy; Ajay Awtaney, founder and editor of LiveFromALounge, an aviation and travel news website; and Updesh Kapur, aviation and communications consultant.
Charlton believes that the deal could be a game-changer for India’s travel industry. He points out that Air India is currently the only Indian carrier with a global presence, and that the new fleet will allow it to expand its reach even further. He also believes that the deal will create more competition in the market, which could lead to lower fares for passengers.
Awtaney agrees that the deal could be beneficial for passengers, but he cautions that Air India will still face stiff competition from major Gulf players. He believes that Air India will need to focus on providing better customer service and better value for money in order to compete with these players.
Kapur believes that the deal could be a major boost for Air India’s reputation. He points out that the airline has been struggling financially in recent years, and that the new fleet could help to restore its image as a reliable and efficient carrier. He also believes that the deal could help to open up new routes for Air India, which could be beneficial for both passengers and the airline itself.
Overall, the guests agree that the deal could be a game-changer for India’s travel industry, but they caution that Air India will need to focus on providing better customer service and better value for money in order to compete with major Gulf players. Only time will tell if Air India can break the monopoly of these players and become a major player in the international aviation market.