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ITA Airways set to start integration into Star Alliance (media release)

ITA Airways has officially received approval to start the integration process into Star Alliance following a verdict by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). Building on its induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year, this decision paves the way for its much anticipated entry into the world’s largest airline alliance. The onboarding process will now move at full throttle. Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias stated: “In early 2026, ITA Airways is expected to officially join the Star Alliance network as a full member. The decision by our Chief Executive Board underscores the strong confidence our members have in ITA Airways. As a gateway for Italy, its addition strengthens our global network, offering seamless and connected journeys to more travellers worldwide.” Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said: “We are excited to join the Star Alliance network and to bring the excellence of Made in Italy into the alliance, further enhancing its global reach. This is a significant milestone in ITA Airways’ growth, and we look forward to offering our customers the future privileges of the world’s largest airline network." ITA Airways will add 360 daily flights to the Alliance network, further strengthening the Alliance’s footprint in the European region. The biggest growth will come from its home cities, especially Rome and Milan, which are currently served by 16 Star Alliance members collectively.
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Passengers evacuate American Airlines regional jet after burning odor and smoke reported in cabin

Passengers evacuated an American Airlines regional jet on the runway Tuesday in Augusta, Georgia, after smelling something burning and seeing light smoke in the cabin. American Flight 5406, operated by PSA Airlines landed in Augusta after a 36-minute flight from Charlotte, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. “The cabin was filled with smoke, and we climbed out on the wing,” passenger Sean O’Conor narrated as he recorded video of the evacuation. “It looks like everybody is safe.” The CRJ-900 aircraft experienced “a maintenance issue after landing safely in Augusta,” the airline told CNN. “All passengers deplaned and were escorted to the airport terminal. The safety of our customers is our top priority, and we apologize for the inconvenience.” The return flight to Charlotte on the plane was canceled, but that aircraft was back in service Wednesday, according to FlightAware. On Wednesday, a different plane flying the same route from Charlotte to Augusta also experienced a mechanical issue, American Airlines told CNN. That aircraft, a CRJ-700, circled and returned to Charlotte after about 20 minutes in the air, according to FlightAware. Three hours later, it took off again and made it safely to Augusta.
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Ryanair becomes first European airline to fly 200m passengers in a year

Ryanair flew 200.2m passengers in its fiscal year to the end of March, largely as forecast, making it the first European airline to carry 200m passengers in one year. Ryanair said at the end of January that it expected its annual traffic to reach almost 200m, up 9% year-on-year. It flew 15m passengers in March, 10% more than a year ago, Ryanair said on Wednesday. The airline, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, cut its forecast for the coming year for the second time in three months in January to 206m passengers from 210m due to Boeing aircraft delivery delays.
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IATA airlines chief warns aviation industry falling behind on net zero

Global airlines have issued their bluntest warning yet that efforts to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 are sliding off course, as the head of their main trade body accused oil firms and the rest of the aviation sector of dragging their feet. Airlines agreed in 2021 to target net-zero emissions in 2050 based mainly on a gradual switch to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). But cracks have appeared as airlines clash with airports, manufacturers, air traffic control agencies and energy companies. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, told Reuters in an interview that airline bosses are increasingly alarmed at the unbalanced burden of the target.
"We don't see others playing their part. In fact, they're behind where they should be and moving in the wrong direction," he said. "They're all committed, so long as we pay the bill. And that's just unacceptable." The outspoken former British Airways boss doubled down on recent comments, reported by Aviation Week, in which he predicted increasing pressure to reassess the target. That marks a shift in tone from an IATA gathering just 10 months ago when Walsh described the target as "existential not optional" and hailed a "fundamental consensus" in aviation. "We're going to have to reevaluate the commitment to net zero in 2050, because we're just not getting the support that the airlines require," he said. "What I'm seeing now is more and more concern being expressed by airline CEOs that more is expected of the industry, which is going to cost even more than the eye-watering estimates that we've had." The next test could be IATA's annual meeting in New Delhi in June. "It's not our intention to formally revisit (the target)," he said. "But it would not surprise me if we get calls from member airlines to look again at that commitment, because (it) was made on the basis that everybody would play their part."
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ITA Airways to join Star Alliance in 2026

ITA Airways will join Star Alliance in 2026 after receiving the green light of approval from the latter’s chief executive board. The integration is expected to move “at full throttle”, with the Italian carrier set to join the alliance as a full member in “early 2026”. The move comes after European aviation giant Lufthansa Group completed its purchase of a 41% minority stake in ITA earlier this year. Several of the group’s airlines – Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines – are existing members of the alliance. ITA Airways will be the 26th airline to join the airline collective – which also includes United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and TAP Air Portugal – and will add 360 daily flights to the alliance network, largely from its hubs in Rome and Milan. Lufthansa Group CCO Dieter Vranckx said the group is “mentoring” ITA through the alliance onboarding process.
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British Airways resumes flights to KL after five years

British Airways has resumed flights to Kuala Lumpur for the first time in five years, marking a significant milestone in reconnecting Malaysia with the United Kingdom. This resumption ends a nearly four-year suspension of the route by the UK flag carrier, which had halted services due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Flight BA33, operated by a Boeing 787-9, departed from London at 9.10pm on Tuesday (April 1) and arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 5.20pm on Wednesday (April 2). “This is a great boost for Malaysia’s tourism industry. Naturally, we hope to welcome more tourists from Europe, particularly from the United Kingdom, to Malaysia,” said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said that Malaysia Airlines already operated two daily flights to London. However, with British Airways’ return, he expressed optimism about future growth. “With more flights, we hope to further expand our tourism industry and attract more visitors, especially in the coming years. Malaysia will continue to enhance its global connectivity, particularly with Europe. We also hope to strengthen our links with the United States,” he added.
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Israel's flag carrier to resume flights to Moscow after Kazakhstan plane crash

El Al, Israel's national airline, will resume regular Tel Aviv-Moscow flights starting May 1, Israel's Ministry of Tourism said. Flights will operate seven times a week: once daily from Monday to Wednesday and twice daily on Thursdays and Sundays. In Moscow, flights will be handled by Domodedovo Airport. The flights will be operated using Boeing 737-900 aircraft, which can accommodate up to 175 passengers. The travel time is approximately five hours. El Al suspended flights to Moscow in late December, citing "events in Russian airspace." The company referred to the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft in Kazakhstan. The crash occurred on December 25, 2024, resulting in the deaths of 38 of the 67 people on board.
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Air traffic controllers to get more support after a fight and latest near miss at Washington airport

Air traffic controllers at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport will be offered crisis counseling and additional supervision after a fight in the tower and another alarming near miss two months after a midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter killed 67 people. The FAA said Wednesday it is also evaluating whether the current arrival rate at Reagan is too high. The agency said it would extend extra support to the controllers who direct flights around the busy airport while Congress and the National Transportation Safety Board continue investigating the deadly January crash. Sen. Ted Cruz, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said that troubling missteps since the crash “underscore the precarious situation in the nation's airspace.” Expressing frustration with the Army's refusal to turn over a memo detailing its flight rules, Cruz said during a Wednesday hearing that any deaths resulting from another collision near Reagan “will be on the Army's hands.” The FAA's decision to bring in crisis counselors followed the Thursday arrest of a 39-year-old employee from Maryland on suspicion of assault and battery after the control tower fight, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed in a statement. No details were released about the altercation. The FAA said the employee was put on administrative leave while the fight is investigated. The next day, a Delta passenger jet had to take evasive action as it took off from Reagan because of the proximity of a flight of four Air Force jets involved in a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery. The incident continued a pattern of close calls that the NTSB has said went on for years around the airport as commercial flights repeatedly got dangerously close to helicopters and other aircraft.
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ITA Airways set to start integration into Star Alliance

ITA Airways has received approval to start the integration process into Star Alliance following a verdict by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). Building on its induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year, the decision paves the way for its much-anticipated entry into the world’s largest airline alliance. “In early 2026, ITA Airways is expected to officially join the Star Alliance network as a full member. The decision by our Chief Executive Board underscores the strong confidence our members have in ITA Airways. As a gateway for Italy, its addition strengthens our global network, offering seamless and connected journeys to more travellers worldwide," said Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias in a press release. Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, added: “We are excited to join the Star Alliance network and to bring the excellence of Made in Italy into the alliance, further enhancing its global reach. This is a significant milestone in ITA Airways’ growth, and we look forward to offering our customers the future privileges of the world’s largest airline network."
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Search for MH370 postponed to next Southern Hemisphere summer

The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been postponed to next summer in the Southern Hemisphere. In a post on its official Facebook page on Thursday (April 3), the Association for Families of the Passengers and Crew on board MH370 said that this is due to seasonal weather changes and prior commercial commitments on the part of Ocean Infinity. “Whilst Ocean Infinity arrived at the proposed search zone earlier, they were only able to officially commence their search on March 25 after the contract was signed,” said the Association. “Ocean Infinity suspended their search on March 28 and shall resume the search during the next summer in the Southern Hemisphere,” it added. The marine robotics company was previously involved in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the aircraft, deploying the Seabed Constructor from January to May 2018. At that time, the search was conducted under a "no cure, no fee" contract with the government. Founded in 2017 and based in Austin in the United States, and Southampton in the United Kingdom, the company uses robots to gather information from the ocean and seabed. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Transport Minister Anthony Loke has said that the government has signed the agreement with Ocean Infinity to resume the search for MH370. He however added on Wednesday that while the agreement has been signed, the search has been paused due to weather conditions at the site. Loke then said that the search would resume at the end of the year.
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Airlines warned Heathrow about power supply ‘resilience’ ahead of blaze

Airlines warned Heathrow airport about concerns over the resilience of its electricity supply days before a power outage caused the closure of the UK’s busiest airport and hundreds of cancelled flights, MPs have heard.  Heathrow closed on March 21 after a massive fire at a nearby electricity substation caused a power cut at the airport, leading to the cancellation of more than 1,300 flights. The airport did not fully reopen for more than 24 hours. “I’d actually warned Heathrow of concerns we had with regard to the substations, my concern was resilience,” Nigel Wicking, chief executive of Heathrow AOC, which represents airlines that use the airport, told the Transport select committee on Wednesday. Wicking told MPs he had first raised his concerns on March 15, following “a couple of incidents of theft of wire and cable around some of the power supply that on one occasion took out a runway for a period of time”. Heathrow said the incident “had no relation” to the later outage that led to its closure and did not involve the main power supplies coming into the airport from three substations. “This issue related to a Woldbye insisted the airport had no choice but to close on safety grounds, but said the airport would review whether it could have reopened some terminals more quickly. “I am absolutely committed to making sure we learn from this,” he added. Wicking said he believed Terminal 5, home of British Airways at Heathrow, could have opened more quickly.minor substation, of which there are 250 at the airport. We were well aware of that incident before Mr Wicking raised it. Our contingencies were stood up and the incident was resolved quickly,” the airport said. Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow, apologised for the disruption to airlines and passengers. “The situation was unprecedented and we recognise the considerable concern and inconvenience it caused,” he said.
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ITA Airways starts Star Alliance integration

Lufthansa Group has provided another update on the integration of ITA Airways into the group, with the Italian airline, which will leave SkyTeam on April 30, receiving executives’ approval to join Star Alliance.
In a statement on April 2, Lufthansa Group detailed that the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) approved the process to start ITA Airways’ integration into the airline alliance. Lufthansa Group and its network carriers, namely Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), are part of Star Alliance, with notable members being Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and others. “The onboarding process will now move at full throttle,” Lufthansa Group said, adding that ITA Airways should be joining Star Alliance in early 2026. The group is helping the Italian carrier through the process, it stated. Dieter Vranckx, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Lufthansa Group, expressed pride that ITA Airways will become the group’s fifth network airline to join the alliance and, as the mentor of the Italian carrier, Lufthansa Group will attempt its best to ensure a smooth process.
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Court suspends Dublin Airport passenger cap beyond summer

Enforcement of a 32m a year limit on passengers at Dublin Airport was suspended by the High Court on Wednesday pending the outcome of a legal challenge that has been referred to Europe. State regulator, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) had indicated that it would take the passenger cap, which is a planning condition, into account when allocating take-off and landing slots to airlines at Dublin. On Wednesday, Mr Justice Barry O’Donnell halted the authority from doing so, pending the outcome of a High Court challenge taken last year by Irish airlines, Ryanair and Aer Lingus, and Airlines for America, which represents US and Canadian carriers. His order followed a hearing on Friday during which the airlines argued that the court should halt the IAA from taking the cap into account when allocating slots until the case is resolved. Wednesday’s ruling effectively suspends implementation of the cap until the court finally deals with the challenge that the airlines began last year, although the planning condition itself remains. During Friday’s hearing, the IAA told the court that it was likely to follow previous decisions and take the restriction into account when allocating airline slots at Dublin Airport, which it does twice a year in advance of each summer and winter.
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ITA Airways Approved for Star Alliance Membership

ITA Airways (AZ) has officially received approval to start the integration process into Star Alliance, the world’s first and largest airline alliance. The Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) decision follows AZ’s induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year and positions the airline to become a full alliance member by early 2026. As part of its transition, the Lufthansa Group will mentor AZ during the integration process. Star Alliance members include Lufthansa (LH), United Airlines (UA), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Turkish Airlines (TK), and others. They offer 17,500 daily flights to 1,150 destinations across 189 countries. ITA Airways is Italy's flagship airline, which is 59% owned by Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and 41% by Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Once fully integrated, AZ will become the 26th member of Star Alliance, adding 360 daily flights and expanding the network to more than 18,000 daily flights across 192 countries.
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Boeing tells Senate it’s making progress on safety reforms and is in talks with DOJ over revised plea deal

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told senators on Wednesday that he’s happy with the company’s progress improving manufacturing and safety practices following several accidents, including a near catastrophe last year. Ortberg faced questioning from the Senate Commerce Committee about how the company will ensure that it doesn’t repeat past accidents or manufacturing defects, in his first hearing since he became CEO last August, tasked with turning the manufacturer around. Sen. Ted Cruz, R.-Texas, the committee’s chairman, said he wants Boeing to succeed and invited company managers and factory workers to report to him their opinions on its turnaround plan. “Consider my door open,” he said. Ortberg acknowledged the company still has more to do. “Boeing has made serious missteps in recent years — and it is unacceptable. In response, we have made sweeping changes to the people, processes, and overall structure of our company,” Ortberg said in his testimony. “While there is still work ahead of us, these profound changes are underpinned by the deep commitment from all of us to the safety of our products and services.” Boeing executives have worked for years to put the lasting impact of two fatal crashes of its best-selling Max plane behind it. Ortberg said Boeing is in discussions with the Justice Department for a revised plea agreement stemming from a federal fraud charge in the development of Boeing’s best-selling 737 Maxes. The previous plea deal, reached last July, was later rejected by a federal judge, who last month set a trial date for June 23 if a new deal isn’t reached. Boeing had agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government, pay up to $487.2m and install a corporate monitor at the company for three years. “We’re in the process right now of going back with the DOJ and coming up with an alternate agreement,” Ortberg said during the hearing. “I want this resolved as fast as anybody. We’re still in discussions and hopefully we’ll have a new agreement here soon.” Asked by Sen. Maria Cantwell, the ranking Democrat on the committee, whether he had an issue with having a corporate monitor, Ortberg replied: “I don’t personally have a problem, no.”
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ITA Airways moving at ‘full throttle’ to join Star Alliance

Italy’s national carrier has received formal approval to integrate into the Star Alliance. On Wednesday, ITA Airways said onboarding “will now move at full throttle” after completing administrative procedures. It represents the latest chapter in a process that is expected to conclude in early 2026. The Star Alliance is a group of 25 global airlines that partner to provide easier connections and cross-company recognition for frequent flyers. Its best-known members include United, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air India, and Lufthansa. Although largely ceremonial, Wednesday’s developments continue a busy start to the year for ITA.
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Embraer delivers 30 aircraft in first quarter, up 20% year-on-year

Brazilian planemaker Embraer said on Wednesday it delivered 30 aircraft in the first quarter of 2025, a 20% increase from a year earlier. The deliveries in the quarter include seven commercial jets, in line with the first quarter of 2024, and 23 executive jets, up 28% from a year earlier, Embraer said in a securities filing. This year, the Brazilian company expects to deliver between 77 and 85 commercial planes and between 145 and 155 executive jets.
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ITA will be the 5th Lufthansa Group airline to join Star Alliance

Eight years after the near collapse of Alitalia, its successor ITA Airways has begun the “integration process” to become a full member of the Star Alliance. The Italian flag carrier is part of the Lufthansa Group, although it is still 59% owned by the Italian government, and has been accepted by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board to become the fifth airline controlled by the German aviation group to join. Upon completion, expected next year, Star Alliance will have 26 global airline members “offering over 18,000 daily flights connecting 192 countries.” The approval to join the world’s largest airline group marked the conclusion of a tumultuous period for the airline which is effectively the continuation of Alitalia. Its predecessor struggled to survive after Etihad Airways pulled it support in 2017, and was eventually rescued by the Italian government in 2020. Although the company was reorganised later that year as ITA, it was stopped from transferring Alitalia branding and flight slots by the European Commission in 2021. The European Union’s competition laws did not allow for the non-market transaction to exclude external bidders.
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ITA Airways Prepares to Join Star Alliance in Early 2026

Italy’s national airline, ITA Airways, is gearing up to become part of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline network. The Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) recently gave the green light for ITA Airways to begin its integration process. This step follows the airline’s earlier inclusion in the Lufthansa Group this year. Now, ITA Airways is on track to officially join the alliance in early 2026, with preparations moving forward at a brisk pace. Theo Panagiotoulias, the CEO of Star Alliance, shared his enthusiasm about the decision. “We expect ITA Airways to become a full member of the Star Alliance network in early 2026,” he said. “This approval from our board shows the trust our members have in ITA Airways. As Italy’s gateway, the airline will boost our global reach. It will also make travel smoother and more connected for people around the world.”
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United Airlines adds Thailand, Vietnam and Australia flights in latest expansion

United Airlines plans to add daily flights to Vietnam and Thailand in October, further expanding the network for the U.S. carrier that already has the most Asia service. In the expansion, United is using a tactic that’s unusual in its network: Its airplanes from Los Angeles and San Francisco that are headed for Hong Kong will then go on to the two new destinations. The Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, service is set to begin on Oct. 26. On Oct. 25, United plans to add a second daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines, and on Dec. 11, it will launch nonstops from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, which will operate three days a week. The carrier has aggressively been adding far-flung destinations not served by rivals to its routes, like Nuuk, Greenland, and Bilbao, Spain, which start later this year. Getting the mix right is especially important as carriers seek to grow their lucrative loyalty programs and need attractive destinations to keep customers spending. Bangkok, in particular, “is in even more demand now given the popularity of ‘White Lotus,’” Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of network and global alliances, said of the HBO show. He said the carrier isn’t planning on cutting any international routes for its upcoming winter schedule.
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Air Canada expects to receive first A321XLR in Q4 as fleet renewal progresses

Air Canada is expecting Airbus to deliver the first of 30 A321XLRs it has on order in the fourth quarter, adding to an ongoing renewal of the Montreal-based carrier’s narrowbody fleet. The Star Alliance airline disclosed on 28 March an update of its fleet renewal plan, which foresees A321XLR deliveries continuing through 2029. Half of the latest-generation narrowbody jets will be leased, while Air Canada plans to acquire the other 15 aircraft under a purchase agreement with Airbus. Air Canada holds options to receive another 10 A321XLRs between 2030 and 2032, for a potential total of 40 of the extra-long-range jets – all powered by Pratt & Whitney (P&W) PW1100G geared turbofans. Upon placing the aircraft order in March 2022, Air Canada had initially anticipated that its first A321XLRs would arrive in the first quarter of 2024, based on Airbus’ prior expectation of clearing certification of the type in 2023.
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Pilots union breaks off talks over Lufthansa’s staffing plans, sources say

The VC pilots union is breaking off talks with Germany's Lufthansa over proposed cuts, sources told Reuters on Wednesday, increasing the likelihood of strikes by cockpit crew over the course of this year. The airline is seeking union approval for cost reductions at Lufthansa's core brand, which has been loss-making. The airline has told employees it needs to make savings in particular in its short- and medium-haul travel offerings, according to a document seen by Reuters. "We didn't reach an agreement on the turnaround," a source familiar with the talks told Reuters. The end of discussions opens the way to formal pay negotiations, which could pave the way for strikes by the core airline's 4,800 pilots. Sources familiar with the talks said Lufthansa had proposed to lift the current pilot hiring freeze and take on 250 new part-time cockpit crew by 2028. The union said this would lead to increasd work for pilots and amount to a stealth pay cut. Lufthansa told Reuters it did not regard the talks as ended and remained open to further discussions.
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Ryanair loses court fight against $701 mln Polish state aid for LOT

Ryanair Wednesday lost its fight against E650m of Polish state aid granted to Polish airline LOT after Europe's second-highest court sided with EU competition authorities which allowed the subsidy. European Union governments provided billions of euros in aid to their national airlines at the height of the COVID pandemic as travel restrictions and plunging demand hammered air travel. The European Commission in its 2020 decision said the Polish aid, which consisted of an E400 subsidised loan and an E250m capital injection, was necessary and appropriate to help LOT weather the crisis. The Luxembourg-based General Court endorsed the decision. "The Commission did not commit a manifest error in finding in the contested decision that LOT was unable to find financing on the markets at affordable terms," judges said. Ryanair, which has won and also lost legal challenges against subsidies granted to its COVID-hit rivals, can appeal only on points of law to the Court of Justice of the European Union, Europe's highest.
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Turkish Airlines launches Ohrid, North Macedonia flights

Turkish Airlines has added Ohrid, one of the North Macedonia’s key tourism destinations, to its flight network. With this addition, Ohrid becomes the flag carrier’s second destination in North Macedonia after Skopje, its 123rd destination in Europe, and its 353rd worldwide. Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s richest areas in terms of biodiversity, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, making it a symbol of the city. In 1980, the entire city of Ohrid was placed under UNESCO protection due to its historical, cultural, and natural significance. Turkish Airlines has begun operating reciprocal flights between Istanbul Airport and Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport four times a week. With this new route, the airline strengthens its regional network, offering passengers more travel options.
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Air India’s ‘whitetail’ plane windfall from China dries up

Air India’s windfall of 737 Max jets amid a broader shortage of new planes is coming to an end. After adding two Boeing aircraft a month on average since September 2023 as the US manufacturer cleared a backlog of the jets it had originally built for Chinese carriers, the pool will run dry by June, people familiar with the matter said, leaving the Indian airline with little visibility around fresh deliveries in the months ahead. Air India’s easy supply was thanks to a supply chain quirk. Boeing was able to divert 737 Max jets built for Chinese carriers, including Shanghai Airlines, as they deferred taking deliveries following regulatory concerns about the safety of a lithium battery in the planes’ cockpit voice recorders. Having ordered 190 of the aircraft in June 2023, Air India’s low cost arm, Air India Express, has already taken possession of 41 of the 50 so-called whitetail planes – those built for others but still in storage. Another four are due this month and five between May and June. Considering deliveries of the remaining 140 737 Max jets wouldn’t start before the end of the financial year ending March 2026, the Tata Group-owned Air India risks losing ground to market leader IndiGo, which has said that this year, it’s adding more than one aircraft a week. Of the 41 whitetail aircraft Air India has received so far, 38 of them are in operations and three are being repainted, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential arrangements. Boeing is separately working on ramping up the 737 production, as it targets 38 jets a month by mid-2025. “We will defer to our customers for any details on their fleet planning,” Boeing said in an email response. Air India and Air India Express didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
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