Air India (AI, Delhi International) has held talks with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) over the possible conversion of outstanding orders for three B777-300(ER)s into ten B737 MAX aircraft airline sources have told India's Hindustan Times.

“We have three B777-300 slots for delivery in 2016. We are examining whether we can take B737 MAX instead,” the source said. “The B737 MAX would be useful for Air India Express (IX, Delhi International). They are looking for this particular type of aircraft, which will blend with their existing fleet of B737-800 planes. We hope to get nine to ten MAX in exchange of three B777s.”

Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) operates seventeen B737-800s on flights throughout India as well as to Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Airbus's latest order book figures for the month of October show Air India Express' rival IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) has converted orders for twenty A321neo into the smaller A320neo. The aircraft are part of a June 2011 order for 180 A320ceo and A320neo family aircraft.

The Indian LCC currently operates sixty-eight A320-200s and twenty-seven A320-200 (sl)s on flights spanning India as well as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, Nepal and Oman.