New Delhi, Nov. 4 – Air India seeks more wide-body jets to accelerate international growth, with CEO Tewolde Gebremariam stating the Tata Group-owned carrier expects profitability very soon. Speaking at the Aviation India Summit, he emphasized that the network strategy demands additional widebody aircraft to boost passenger traffic and reclaim market share from foreign competitors. Discussions with Airbus and Boeing are underway to expand the existing order of 80 wide-body planes to a broader fleet of around 600 aircraft.
Gebremariam noted that only about 10 ordered wide-bodies, including Airbus A350s, Boeing 787s and 777Xs, have been delivered so far. Expanding the fleet will support more international connecting passengers and efficient operations amid challenges. The CEO expressed impatience for profitability through revenue growth and cost efficiencies.
High operating costs remain a concern, especially the elevated cost per available seat kilometre needing reduction. Geopolitical disruptions like airspace restrictions have forced network rebalancing. Under Tata ownership, with Singapore Airlines as a stakeholder, the airline pursues its transformation focused on fleet renewal and operational gains.
Since the 2022 privatization, Air India has expanded aggressively in the aviation industry to become a leading player. The CEO’s focus on modern wide-body jets supports long-term sustainable growth, better efficiency, and financial health in the long-haul market.