Air India’s recent streak of acquiring Boeing 737 Max jets, a rare advantage amid a global aircraft shortage, is nearing its end. The airline has been receiving an average of two aircraft per month since September 2023, thanks to an unexpected supply chain twist involving jets originally destined for Chinese carriers.
According to sources familiar with the matter, this steady flow is expected to dry up by June 2025. The Boeing jets—initially built for Chinese airlines like Shanghai Airlines—were redirected to Air India after regulatory concerns in China delayed deliveries. Chinese regulators had flagged safety issues related to the lithium batteries used in the aircrafts’ cockpit voice recorders, leading to a backlog of undelivered jets at Boeing.
This regulatory delay in China presented a rare opportunity for Air India. Boeing, looking to offload the undelivered planes, diverted the aircraft to the Indian carrier, allowing Air India to rapidly expand its narrowbody fleet at a time when most global airlines are grappling with manufacturing delays and supply chain bottlenecks.
However, with the diverted stock nearly exhausted and the original Chinese carriers potentially resuming deliveries, Air India now faces uncertainty regarding the timeline of future Boeing 737 Max arrivals. This development may pose challenges to the airline’s fleet expansion and route growth plans in the short term.
Air India, currently undergoing a major transformation under the Tata Group, has placed significant orders with Boeing and Airbus as part of its long-term fleet modernization strategy. The temporary boost from redirected aircraft has supported its aggressive growth, but the carrier must now rely on regular production timelines and delivery commitments from aircraft manufacturers to sustain momentum.