India's Jet Airways Could Be Eyeing The Airbus A220

#JetAirways is already looking to increase the size of its aircraft in preparation for its anticipated relaunch later this year. The Indian Airline is expected to approve a $5.5 billion aircraft purchase with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for its #A320 neo and #A220 narrowbody jets, according to Bloomberg.

A wave of low-cost carriers forced Jet Airways, once the biggest private airline in India, out of business in 2019. Three years later, the airline has recovered from the verge and is prepared to resume operations with a new, modernised image that has been updated for "the digital age" — and it seems that its fleet may be the first to receive that change.

Six aircraft, with an average age of 16 years, are currently in the airline's fleet: two Airbus A330-200, three Boeing 737-800, and one Boeing 737-900. However, if the airline wants to reestablish its prior network, a significant increase will be needed.

Although discussions with #Boeing and #Embraer, the makers of the rival 737 MAX and E2 families of aircraft, respectively, have also been ongoing, Airbus has emerged as the front-runner for the $5.5 billion list price sale. "We are in final discussions with lessors and OEMs regarding aircraft, and once we have decided, we will publish our aircraft selection and fleet strategy. To determine which option will work best for us, we are researching all of our options, an airline representative told Bloomberg.

The general public does appear to like Airbus; last week, the airline teased the choice with its Twitter followers by posting a poll asking which plane should be added to its fleet next. The 737 MAX series came in second place with slightly over 32% of the vote, while the Airbus A320neo family took home 47% of the vote.

Indian airlines, particularly low-cost carrier IndiGo, which flies the largest fleet of A320neo family aircraft in the world, have proven to be steadfast supporters of Airbus' narrowbody offerings. With 538 unfulfilled orders, there are now 538 of the type in service with the airline. Go First, Vistara, and national carrier Air India all have a variety of A320 and A321 aircraft in their fleets as well.

Chief Executive Sanjiv Kapoor noted that long-term perspectives over short-term availability would determine its final choice for aircraft, displaying a clear commitment to the future of the airline. The development of Jet Airways' fleet is not being taken lightly by airline managers.

In order to compete with regional low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet while maintaining its full-service operations through a two-class offering, the carrier is planning to redesign its business model.

In April, Kapoor told The India Times, "It's really tough in the home Indian market to take on the expense of the food and everything else in economy class, where the client in India chooses mostly on the basis of fares." "Let's just accept that and spare ourselves any further expense,"

The airline is anticipated to restart operations later this year despite the lack of a formal relaunch date after its recertification last month.