Airlines in the Persian Gulf are actively pursuing earlier delivery slots for Boeing Co. and Airbus SE aircraft that may become available as Air India Ltd. considers deferring some orders. According to reports from The Economic Times, carriers including Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways and Saudi Arabia's national airline Saudia are in talks with the planemakers to obtain delivery positions as early as 2029 and 2030. Etihad is reportedly close to securing approximately half-dozen near-term Boeing 787 Dreamliner slots currently held by Air India. The talks between the planemakers and airlines are preliminary, and no agreements have been finalized, as reported by people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private negotiations.
Air India has not deferred any aircraft orders or delivery slots with Boeing or Airbus, and its fleet modernization program remains on track, according to a carrier spokesperson as reported by The Economic Times. The airline didn't respond to questions about whether discussions regarding these matters were underway with the manufacturers. Airbus declined to comment on customers' delivery pipelines, while Boeing deferred such questions to buyers. Etihad and Saudia didn't reply to requests for comment on the ongoing discussions.
With order books for the most popular Airbus and Boeing jets stretching well into the next decade, near-term delivery slots have become highly coveted by airlines looking to modernize fleets and expand route networks. As reported by The Economic Times, Etihad Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves stated last month that the United Arab Emirates' national carrier secured earlier delivery positions for some Boeing and Airbus aircraft as other carriers postponed or canceled commitments. Air India previously acquired more than 50 Boeing 737 Max jets originally built for Chinese airlines, along with Airbus A350 widebody jets once earmarked for Russia's Aeroflot.
