Posted 5-2-2005 at 10:32 PM

Air-India on Tuesday approved the purchase of up to 50 long-range Boeing Co aircraft worth about 300 billion rupees (US$6.9bil), the US plane maker's second multi-billion dollar deal in as many days.

The order, subject to Indian government approval, included eight 777-200LR ultra-long range aircraft, 15 777-300ERs and 27 of Boeing's newest 787 long-range jets, India's state-run international carrier said in a statement.

Boeing Co said it hoped to corner a big share of the estimated US$35bil market in India over the next 20 years.

“It's an important customer and we're really happy to have them on board,” Mike Bair, vice-president and general manager of the 787 programme, said on a conference call. “As the Indian airlines start to deregulate, we're seeing a lot of stuff starting to happen over there.”

Air-India is facing increasing competition, as private carriers Jet Airways and Air Sahara have launched flights to South-East Asia and will soon fly to London.

air canada bought boeings too i think

Yea they did. They shoulda bought some Bombardiers just to help the company out.

wt boeings? 2nd hand cheap 737s?

No I think they signed on for some 787s. The newest ones. Coming soon in 2010.

wow i think the 787s are more popular than the a380

Yea and considering the fact that the 787 isn't even in prototype stages yet. I think it's because of the rising fuel prices.

a380 is gonna burn twice the fuel. Look at its SIZE!

But carry twice the cargo.