Air India in talks with Boeing to take 10 planes snubbed by Chinese airlines, sources say
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said on Wednesday that "due to the tariffs, many of our customers in China have indicated that they will not take delivery", and the company could redirect jets to other customers in need.
The United States and China, the globe's two largest economies, have each imposed duties exceeding 100% on the other.
Two sources, who declined to be named as the discussions are private, said Air India was seeking around 10 narrowbody planes from Boeing for its budget carrier Air India Express, which has a fleet of more than 100 aircraft.
Air India, Air India Express and Boeing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
"Air India is very interested ... if the deal goes through, the planes are expected to be added to the fleet by end of the year," the first person said, adding the talks were in early stages.
Air India Express has previously taken white tail aircraft - or jets manufactured for one customer but acquired by another.
A third source familiar with talks between Air India and Boeing said any difference in jet configuration between its fleet and the incoming planes meant for Chinese customers may be factored into price negotiations.
The move could be a boost to Air India's expansion plans as the group's growth has been constrained by a lack of new aircraft.
Last month, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline was a "victim of circumstance," referring to delivery delays plaguing Boeing and Airbus.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- Indian Express
OpenAI's Sam Altman says AI market bubble is real but also sees long-term benefits
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes that the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is in a bubble but has argued that it could still bring benefits. 'When bubbles happen, smart people get overexcited about a kernel of truth,' Altman was quoted as saying by The Verge. 'Are we in a phase where investors as a whole are overexcited about AI? My opinion is yes. Is AI the most important thing to happen in a very long time? My opinion is also yes,' he added. The ChatGPT frontman reportedly made these remarks at a recent dinner with a small group of tech journalists last week, following the launch of OpenAI's latest major AI model GPT-5. However, Altman's warning of an AI bubble does not mean he doubts the technology's long-term positive impact especially in fields like maths and science. 'I do think some investors are likely to get very burnt here, and that sucks. And I don't want to minimise that. But on the whole, it is my belief that the value created by AI for society will be tremendous,' he said. Based on recent news reports, OpenAI is looking to invest in a brain-computer interface startup to rival Elon Musk's Neuralink. Fears of an AI bubble spiraled earlier this year when Chinese startup DeepSeek released a competitive AI reasoning model that was supposedly developed at half the cost of models by US-based rivals such as OpenAI. Altman's remarks come amid growing concerns raised by analysts and industry stakeholders such as Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, Bridgewater Associates' Ray Dalio, and Apollo Global Management chief economist Torsten Slok, about the pace of investment in AI moving dangerously fast. Speaking at HSBC's Global Investment Summit in March this year, Alibaba's Joe Tsai reportedly asked whether it was necessary to spend such astounding amounts on building data centres and raised further concerns about companies building data centres 'on spec' with no clear market demand. Several stakeholders, including Altman, have drawn comparisons between today's generative AI boom and the dotcom bubble that burst in the early 2000s. 'Back then, you had a lot of over-leveraged situations. You didn't have a lot of companies that had earnings. Here you're talking about companies that have very solid earnings, very strong cash flow, and they're funding a lot of this growth through that cash flow. So in many respects, it's a little different than that,' Rob Rowe, the managing director of Citi, was quoted as saying by CNBC. During the late 1990s, the rise of internet-focused companies had led to massive investor enthusiasm. However, many of these companies failed to generate revenue or profits, and the stock market crashed with the Nasdaq losing nearly 80 per cent of its value. Even though the dotcom crash wiped out several tech companies, it is believed to have also given rise to the modern internet and its underlying infrastructure. Those like Altman believe that the AI industry may follow a similar path.
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
Nvidia working on new AI chip for China that outperforms the H20
Nvidia is developing a new AI chip for China based on its latest Blackwell architecture that will be more powerful than the H20 model it is currently allowed to sell there, two people briefed on the matter said. US President Donald Trump last week opened the door to the possibility of more advanced Nvidia chips being sold in China. But the sources noted US regulatory approval is far from guaranteed amid deep-seated fears in Washington about giving China too much access to US artificial intelligence technology. The new chip, tentatively known as the B30A, will use a single-die design that is likely to deliver half the raw computing power of the more sophisticated dual-die configuration in Nvidia's flagship B300 accelerator card, the sources said. A single-die design is when all the main parts of an integrated circuit are made on one continuous piece of silicon rather than split across multiple dies. The new chip would have high-bandwidth memory and Nvidia's NVLink technology for fast data transmission between processors, features that are also in the H20 - a chip based on the company's older Hopper architecture. The chip's specifications are not completely finalised but Nvidia hopes to deliver samples to Chinese clients for testing as early as next month, said the sources who were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. Nvidia said in a statement: "We evaluate a variety of products for our roadmap, so that we can be prepared to compete to the extent that governments allow." "Everything we offer is with the full approval of the applicable authorities and designed solely for beneficial commercial use," it said. The US Department of Commerce did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Flashpoint The extent to which China, which generated 13% of Nvidia's revenue in the past financial year, can have access to cutting-edge AI chips is one of the biggest flashpoints in US-Sino trade tensions. Nvidia only received permission in July to recommence sales of the H20. It was developed specifically for China after export restrictions were put in place in 2023, but company was abruptly ordered to stop sales in April. Trump said last week he might allow Nvidia to sell a scaled-down version of its next-generation chip in China after announcing an unprecedented deal that will see Nvidia and rival AMD give the US government 15% of revenue from sales of some advanced chips in China. A new Nvidia chip for China might have "30% to 50% off", he suggested in an apparent reference to the chip's computing power, adding that the H20 was "obsolete". US legislators, both Democratic and Republican, have worried that access to even scaled-down versions of flagship AI chips will impede US efforts to maintain its lead in artificial intelligence. But Nvidia and others argue that it is important to retain Chinese interest in its chips - which work with Nvidia's software tools - so that developers do not completely switch over to offerings from rivals like Huawei. Huawei has made great strides in chip development, with its latest models said to be on par with Nvidia in some aspects like computing power, though analysts say it lags in key areas such as software ecosystem support and memory bandwidth capabilities. Complicating Nvidia's efforts to retain market share in China, Chinese state media have also in recent weeks alleged that the U.S firm's chips could pose security risks, and authorities have cautioned Chinese tech firms about purchasing the H20. Nvidia says its chips carry no backdoor risks. Nvidia is also preparing to start delivering a separate new China-specific chip based on its Blackwell architecture and designed primarily for AI inference tasks, according to two other people familiar with those plans. Reuters reported in May that this chip, currently dubbed the RTX6000D, will sell for less than the H20, reflecting weaker specifications and simpler manufacturing requirements. The chip is designed to fall under thresholds set by the US government. It uses conventional GDDR memory and features memory bandwidth of 1,398 gigabytes per second, just below the 1.4 terabyte threshold established by restrictions introduced in April that led to the initial H20 ban. Nvidia is set to deliver small batches of RTX6000D to Chinese clients in September, said one of the people.
News18
12 minutes ago
- News18
Trump's Tariffs, Modi's Red Fort Defiance, Yi's Delhi Visit: As Sovereign As They Come
Last Updated: In an increasingly multipolar world, Modi showcased India's position as a truly sovereign power, one that will not break with threats of economic coercion Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the tables on American economic coercion. He transformed pressure into power. When Donald Trump unleashed punitive 50% tariffs designed to force India into abandoning its strategic partnerships, Modi struck back. He delivered a defiant Red Fort address that rejected Trump's bullying. Hosting Wang Yi on August 18 was just the cherry on the cake, showcasing India's diplomatic alternatives in the face of American bullying. The response sends an unequivocal message: India will not compromise its sovereignty under any external pressure, and will not sacrifice its strategic autonomy for American approval. In an increasingly multipolar world, Modi showcased India's position as a truly sovereign power, one that will not break with threats of economic coercion. The Anatomy of Economic Coercion Trump's decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods, among the highest levied on any nation, was never merely about trade deficits or Russian oil purchases. The tariff structure, combining a 25% baseline duty with an additional 25% penalty, deliberately targeted $87 billion worth of Indian exports to the United States. This move was calculated economic warfare designed to extract maximum political concessions from New Delhi. The coercive nature of these tariffs becomes evident when examining their selective application. While China remains the largest purchaser of Russian oil globally, Trump has extended deadlines for Chinese tariffs by 90 days, hoping for a favourable deal with Xi Jinping. India, conversely, faced immediate punishment despite importing significantly less Russian energy than China. This disparity reveals the true strategic intent: to pressure a democratic ally into abandoning its sovereign decision-making whilst appeasing a strategic rival. Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton characterised this approach as producing the 'worst outcome" for America, noting the irony that tariffs intended to hurt Russia could instead push India closer to both Russia and China. The selective targeting of India while sparing China exposes the fundamental strategic miscalculation underlying Trump's coercive diplomacy. A Defiant Declaration of Sovereignty On August 15, Modi delivered one of his longest-ever Independence Day speeches, running for 103 minutes. He systematically dismantled the premises of any external coercion whilst reinforcing India's commitment to strategic autonomy. His declaration that India 'will not tolerate nuclear blackmail" and his emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat served as direct responses to American pressure tactics and Pakistan's unhinged declarations from US soil. He explicitly stated that 'Operation Sindoor would not have succeeded if India were not atmanirbhar (self-reliant)," directly linking India's military capabilities to its economic independence. This connection between self-reliance and security reframed the tariff debate from economic vulnerability to national strength, moving the narrative back in India's favour. Modi's assertion that India would 'never compromise on the interests of its farmers, livestock rearers and fisherfolk" delivered more than agricultural protectionism. Modi directly rejected US demands for market access to genetically modified crops and dairy products, key American negotiating objectives that had dominated trade discussions. The Prime Minister elevated the stakes by framing the trade negotiations as a sovereignty issue rather than a trade dispute. His reference to the Indus Waters Treaty, declaring that 'blood and water cannot flow together," showed India's refusal to compartmentalise policy under external pressure. Modi linked water rights with counter-terrorism policy, signalling that India would reject American definitions of acceptable behaviour in its regional relationships. Diplomatic Realignment with China Wang Yi's visit marked the first high-level Chinese diplomatic engagement with India in three years, following the 2020 Galwan Valley tensions. The decision to resume such engagement precisely when US-India relations faced their greatest strain since Trump's return to office sent unmistakable signals about India's strategic alternatives. Chinese media outlets immediately recognised the significance, with the Global Times referring to a potential 'ballet dance between dragon and elephant" as both nations faced American tariff pressure. The substance of the Wang Yi meetings further reinforced India's strategic messaging. During discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Wang criticised 'unilateral bullying practices" in apparent reference to American tariff policies, whilst emphasising that 'free trade and the international order face severe challenges". This alignment of messaging between Beijing and New Delhi demonstrated the unintended consequences of Trump's coercive approach. Most significantly, the meetings established groundwork for Modi's planned visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in late August. This diplomatic engagement, occurring whilst under American economic pressure, perfectly illustrated Modi's multi-alignment strategy and refusal to accept binary geopolitical choices. Atmanirbhar Bharat In Full Effect The emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat during Modi's Red Fort address elevated the self-reliance initiative from economic policy to strategic doctrine. By explicitly linking indigenous capabilities to national security, the Prime Minister reframed economic independence as fundamental to strategic autonomy. The Atmanirbhar Bharat framework provides India with conceptual tools to resist external pressure whilst maintaining growth momentum. The initiative's focus on domestic manufacturing, technological sovereignty, and supply chain resilience directly addresses vulnerabilities that economic coercion seeks to exploit. And it is not just in the defence sector that Atmanirbhar is supposed to work. Modi's call for indigenous semiconductor manufacturing, jet engine development, and expanded nuclear energy capabilities represents more. These priorities constitute strategic responses to technological dependencies that could be weaponised by external actors. By pursuing technological sovereignty across critical sectors, India reduces exposure to supply chain disruptions and economic blackmail, as was imposed by Trump. The Broader Implications For Global Order India's successful resistance to American economic coercion carries implications far beyond bilateral relationships, contributing to broader shifts towards a multipolar international order. By demonstrating that even significant economic pressure cannot force major powers into policy subordination, India's response weakens coercive diplomacy as a tool of international statecraft. The timing of India's resistance coincides with similar challenges to American hegemony from other quarters. China's continued growth despite trade wars, Russia's resilience under sanctions, and European resistance to extraterritorial sanctions all contribute to perceptions of declining American coercive capacity. India's successful resistance adds democratic legitimacy to this broader pattern of pushback against hegemonic pressure. India's approach also strengthens multilateral alternatives to American-dominated institutions. The deepening of BRICS cooperation, enhanced SCO engagement, and continued commitment to G20 leadership demonstrate that India sees institutional diversification as essential for maintaining strategic autonomy. These platforms provide India with alternative venues for pursuing national interests without American oversight. The broader message resonates across the Global South, where many nations face similar pressures to align with great power preferences. India's demonstration that democratic governance and strategic autonomy can coexist provides encouragement for other middle powers seeking to maintain policy independence, while also further cementing India's position as a leader of the Global South. The beauty of Modi's approach lies in its demonstration that sovereignty and partnership can coexist. By refusing to accept binary choices between American alignment and Chinese engagement, India has shown that strategic autonomy remains viable in an era of great power competition. top videos View all The economic costs of American tariffs, whilst significant, pale in comparison to the strategic benefits of demonstrated autonomy. India's successful resistance enhances its credibility with all partners, showing that it cannot be pressured into abandoning its principles or interests. This reputation for reliability under pressure increases India's value as a partner across all relationships, from American security cooperation to Chinese economic engagement. Most importantly, Modi's response reinforces India's trajectory to the higher echelons of world power structures by demonstrating the strategic autonomy that defines truly sovereign states. By refusing to be bullied whilst maintaining productive relationships across the international system, India has shown that it possesses the strategic sophistication required for global leadership. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 19, 2025, 18:11 IST News opinion Opinion | Trump's Tariffs, Modi's Red Fort Defiance, Yi's Delhi Visit: As Sovereign As They Come Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
