Air India buys 85 Airbus jets, may add Boeing jets, sources say

Air India is continuing a dramatic turnaround by placing a new order for 85 Airbus planes and could buy more Boeing jets on top of an historic order for European and U.S. jets last year, industry sources said. The Airbus order emerged in a routine industry update as the national carrier mourned the death of the former chairman of parent Tata Group, business and aviation pioneer Ratan Tata. Airbus said late on Wednesday an unnamed customer had placed an order for 75 A320-family jets and 10 long-haul A350s. Three sources said that Air India was the airline behind the order. Two of the sources said Air India was also in talks for a potential top-up order from Boeing. Air India did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Airbus deal, first reported by Bloomberg News. Airbus, whose routine monthly bulletin was published shortly before Tata announced the death of its former chairman at the age of 86, declined comment on any talks with customers. Boeing did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Ratan Tata took over from the Tata conglomerate's former chairman and founder of Air India, J.R.D. Tata in 1991 and served as chairman for over 20 years.<br/>