Air India acquires first Airbus A350-900 through finance lease

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Air India on Friday said that it has acquired India’s first Airbus A350-900 aircraft through a finance lease transaction with HSBC.

According to airline officials, the transaction makes Air India the first scheduled carrier to have acquired an aircraft from an entity registered in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

The A350-900 is also the first widebody aircraft to have been leased through India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

“The transaction was facilitated by AI Fleet Services Limited (AIFS), a 100 per cent subsidiary of Air India, and a GIFT IFSC-registered finance company,” said the officials.

“This landmark transaction marks the beginning of our aircraft leasing business from GIFT IFSC, as AIFS will be the primary Air India Group entity for widebody aircraft financing, playing a pivotal role in the future aircraft financing strategy for us and our subsidiaries,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer, Air India.

"It is also a shot in the arm for the development of a robust aviation ecosystem in India. As a flag-bearer of the country, Air India is happy to support the Government of India’s efforts to develop an aircraft leasing hub in GIFT IFSC,” said Aggarwal.

“IFSCA has been working with the stakeholders to develop regulatory enablers for aircraft leasing and financing. The steps taken by Air India by establishing a finance company for the purpose of aircraft leasing and financing at IFSC will go long way in developing IFSC as a preferred destination for aircraft leasing and financing in India as well as globally," mentioned Dipesh Shah, Executive Director, IFSCA.

The first of Air India’s six Airbus A350-900 is expected to arrive in the country by the end of this year, with the remaining one scheduled for deliveries through March 2024.

In addition to the six Airbus A350-900 aircraft, Air India’s orders for 470 new aircraft include 34 A350-1000, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 777X widebody aircraft, as well as 140 Airbus A320neo, 70 Airbus A321neo and 190 Boeing 737MAX narrowbody aircraft.

Air India had signed purchase agreements to acquire these aircraft with Airbus and Boeing on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show held in June this year.