Air India to lease second hand B777s, A320neo

Air India is planning to add six second-hand B777-200s and twenty-five A320-200Ns by the first quarter of 2023 to renew its fleet in the short-term before it can take deliveries of new aircraft, the Economic Times has reported. The widebodies will be ex-Delta Air Lines aircraft and are expected to deliver to Air India by October 2022. They will be used on the carrier's most lucrative US routes. Delta Air Lines retired ten B777-200(LR)s and eight B777-200(ER)s during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three -200(LR)s are due to be converted into freighters for Cargojet Airways (W8, Hamilton, ON), while one -200(ER) has been acquired by the Arizona Cardinals football franchise and is operated by Jet Aviation Flight Services (Teterboro). The remaining aircraft are in storage. Air India did not clarify which of the two variants it would add, and did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment. It currently operates three -200(LR)s but is planning to sell them. According to earlier reports, the dry-lease of the B777s will be for two years. The A320neo will be sourced from the open market, and their identity has yet to be confirmed. They are scheduled to start delivering in early 2023 and will be used primarily on domestic routes.<br/>