National carrier Air India is reportedly engaged in discussions with American aerospace giant Boeing to potentially acquire approximately ten 737 MAX aircraft. This development comes in the wake of reports that Chinese airlines are beginning to decline deliveries of Boeing jets, a consequence of the ongoing trade tensions between China and the United States, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Boeing Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg addressed the situation on Wednesday, stating that the implemented tariffs have led to several Chinese customers indicating their unwillingness to accept aircraft deliveries. Ortberg suggested that the company might explore reallocating these jets to other airlines with pressing fleet requirements.

The protracted trade dispute between the world's two largest economies has seen both nations impose substantial tariffs, exceeding 100% in some instances, on goods imported from the other. This has created significant disruptions across various industries, including the aviation sector.

Two individuals with knowledge of the ongoing discussions, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the private nature of the talks, revealed that Air India is specifically interested in acquiring around ten narrowbody aircraft for its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express. Air India Express currently operates a fleet of over 100 aircraft, primarily catering to short-haul international and domestic routes.

While official comments from Air India, Air India Express, and Boeing are yet to be released, one of the sources indicated a strong interest from the Indian carrier. "Air India is very interested... if the deal goes through, the planes are expected to be added to the fleet by the end of the year," the source stated, while also noting that the discussions are still in their preliminary stages.

Interestingly, Air India Express has a history of acquiring "white tail" aircraft – jets that were originally manufactured for one airline but subsequently acquired by another. This suggests a degree of flexibility within the airline's procurement strategy.

A third source with insight into the Air India-Boeing interactions highlighted that any discrepancies in the configuration of the jets intended for Chinese customers compared to Air India's existing fleet could factor into the price negotiations. This consideration is typical in such aircraft acquisition scenarios to account for any necessary modifications or retrofitting.

This potential acquisition could provide a significant boost to Air India's expansion ambitions, which have faced limitations due to delays in new aircraft deliveries from both Boeing and Airbus. Last month, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson acknowledged the challenges, describing the airline as a "victim of circumstance" concerning these delivery setbacks. Securing these readily available 737 MAX jets could offer a timely solution to alleviate some of the fleet constraints and support the airline's growth trajectory in the competitive Indian aviation market.