Air India-Boeing landmark deal a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation: PM Modi & President Biden

As Air India signed a deal with Boeing to purchase 220 new aircraft for its expansion plans, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden described the "landmark agreement" as a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries. Prime Minister Modi invited Boeing and other US companies to make use of the opportunities arising due to the expanding civil aviation sector in India, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. Hours earlier, Air India had also announced a deal with Airbus for purchase of both wide-body and single-aisle aircraft. Air India has set a new record by placing an order for a total of 470 aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing. This single purchase order is the largest in history and is aimed at expanding the airline's operations. The order includes a mix of wide-body and single-aisle aircraft. The wide-body aircraft consists of 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777-9s. Meanwhile, the single-aisle aircraft include 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX planes. Boeing and Air India have agreed that Air India will purchase 220 aircraft from Boeing for a total of USD 34 billion. There is also an option to purchase an additional 70 aircraft, which could bring the total value of the transaction up to USD 45.9 billion. This deal has the potential to create up to 1 million jobs across 44 US states. Deepening Global Relationship "Glad to speak with @POTUS @JoeBiden. Excellent discussion to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership. We welcome the landmark @airindiain-@Boeing agreement which will help create new opportunities in both countries," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after the telephone call with President Biden. According to the PMO, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which has resulted in robust growth in all domains. During their conversation, they welcomed the first meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) held recently in Washington DC. They expressed a keen desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in space, semi-conductors, supply chains, defence co-production and co-development and knowledge and innovation ecosystems. They also agreed to bolster the vibrant people-to-people ties between the two countries, which have been mutually beneficial, the PMO added.