Air India To Sell Its Airbus A319s

Air India is quietly moving to sell Airbus A319 jets, having appointed UK-based firm Skytech-AIC to dispose of six ageing A319-100s that previously operated across its network.

The aircraft, all to be offered without engines, are slated for immediate availability and while a small disposal continues to see the airline transition towards newer-gen aircraft such as the A320neo family.

A319s Up For Sale

Skytech-AIC announced that they had been mandated by the Indian flag carrier to market six A319-100s for outright sale, and that the aircraft were to be delivered “green.” By being delivered green, they come without their CFM engines.

The UK firm states the jets were built between 2006 and 2009, which puts them in the 16 to 19-year age bracket, and planespotters.net further highlights the current A319 fleet, which includes not just active but also many stored planes delivered during this three-year window.

Selling these jets without engines suggests that Air India or other entities are looking to retain the CFM56s either as spares or because a part-out valuation warrants their retention. The use case for these can range from continuing to use spares to keep aircraft in the skies to other secondary projects.

Who Are Skytech-AIC?

Skytrech-AIC is a UK-based aircraft lessor. Being independent, its services also extend to being a marketing agent, manager of assets, and an advisor for airlines with a lengthy track record, more specifically of remarketing midlife widebodies and narrowbodies globally.

The managing director, Julain Balaam, said the A319 mandates follow a more successful conclusion of the Air India 747-400 fleet completed in 2025. This means the flag-carrier is returning to a presence it’s familiar with for the next disposal being the A319 jets.

The firm’s role with these jets is to run a global marketing process to identify prospective buyers and then handle the relevant sale terms and documentation. However, with the A319 ageing and out of favour in most airlines’ fleets, it’s become more niche-oriented to extend its operational life.

Beyond the chance for the jets to continue flying, albeit challenging without the engines, the teardown would be the most likely outcome if a buyer were to emerge, with the parts valuable for a host of reasons, including resale in the second-hand market to support other ageing A320ceo family jets.

Does Air India Fly The A319?

Despite the sale of some A319s, Air India still has a very small fleet of A319-100s that remain active per the latest fleet data, making it the second-smallest variant in the airline’s mainline fleet, alongside the A320ceo.

Four A319-100s are listed as still under the airline’s name: VT-SCH, delivered in October 2007; VT-SCQ, delivered in May 2009; and VT-SCV, delivered in November 2009. The data shows these three models are active. VT-SCR, delivered in July 2009, is listed as parked.

These A319s are, on average, 17.4 years old, making them the oldest fleet type by that metric. Other commitments to the A320ceo family closely follow them.

Air India operates 2 A320-200s and has 2 parked, with an average age of 16.4 years. Additionally, 13 A321-200s are still in the airline’s name, with an average age of 17.2 years. However, these A321ceos see just 8 units active with 5 on the ground.