Air India Completes First Phase of Major Fleet Upgrade
Air India has successfully completed the first phase of its $400 million fleet retrofit program, upgrading 27 A320neo aircraft with new interiors. These revamped narrowbody planes will now serve 3,024 weekly flights across 82 domestic and short-haul international routes.
Key Takeaways
- 27 A320neo aircraft fully retrofitted with new seats, IFE systems, and charging ports
- Phase 1 covers 50% of pre-privatization narrowbody fleet
- Remaining 23 A320ceo aircraft to be upgraded next year
- Next phases target Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft through 2028
Fleet Modernization Progress
The recently completed narrowbody upgrades are part of Air India’s comprehensive fleet modernization strategy. The airline inherited 27 A320neos and 23 A320ceos from its pre-privatization era, with the latter scheduled for retrofit in the coming year.
Since 2022, Air India has significantly expanded its fleet, adding 14 new A320neos and acquiring 63 additional A320/A321 aircraft through its merger with Vistara last November.
Widebody Retrofit Timeline
The second phase of the retrofit program began in July 2025, focusing on 27 Boeing 787 aircraft with completion expected by mid-2027. Starting early 2027, Air India will also upgrade 13 legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft used primarily for US routes, though supply chain issues have pushed the completion date to October 2028.
These widebody aircraft currently serve destinations in Europe, the Far East, and Australia. With 60 widebodies among its total fleet of 187 aircraft, Air India continues to strengthen its long-haul capabilities.
Post-Privatization Fleet Expansion
Since privatization, Air India has added six new A350s and leased 14 Boeing 777s from various airlines. The carrier plans to introduce a new widebody every six weeks next year, including two additional A350s. However, the airline will also return five of its leased 777s to Delta Airlines as part of its fleet optimization strategy.
