NEW DELHI— Air India (AI) plans to retrofit 16 additional Boeing 787-8 aircraft in 2027 as Tata Group’s airline continues a major fleet transformation programme. The carrier also expects the wider Air India Group, including Air India Express, to induct more than 100 new aircraft across 2027 and 2028.
Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson told employees at a town hall that the airline remains focused on long-term fleet and product improvements despite a difficult operating environment.
Higher jet fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, airspace restrictions, currency depreciation and softer demand on the India-US corridor have created additional pressure on operations.
Air India 787 Retrofit
Air India’s $400 million legacy fleet retrofit programme is moving ahead, with the narrowbody refurbishment programme completed and the widebody phase now progressing.
The airline has inducted three retrofitted Boeing 787-8 aircraft in 2026, while another four are expected to return to service before the end of the year.
The next phase will see 16 more Boeing 787-8 aircraft undergo refurbishment in 2027. Once those aircraft return to service, the retrofit of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 fleet is expected to be nearly complete, giving the carrier a more consistent cabin product across its long-haul operations.
The refurbishment introduces new cabin interiors, seats and inflight entertainment systems, bringing the legacy aircraft closer to the standards of Air India’s newer widebody aircraft.
The airline previously said its 26 legacy Boeing 787-8s would receive comprehensive upgrades as part of the wider programme.
Fleet Expansion Plans for Air India
Alongside the retrofit work, Air India is expanding its fleet with new-generation aircraft. The carrier has added three new Boeing 787-9s in 2026, while two Airbus A350-1000 aircraft are expected to join the fleet later this year.
The larger Air India Group is preparing for a much stronger growth phase in 2027 and 2028, when more than 100 new aircraft are planned for induction.
The expansion is expected to increase capacity while replacing older aircraft and supporting the group’s international network ambitions.
Air India has continued investing in upgraded cabins, food and beverage offerings, Maharaja Club lounges, loyalty services, inflight entertainment and onboard Wi-Fi. The airline said customer sentiment has improved as more refurbished and new aircraft enter service.
Reliability Improvements Aboard Indian Flag Carrier
Operational disruptions caused by airspace restrictions have also been used to accelerate maintenance and engineering work.
During periods of temporary network curtailment, Air India advanced three major widebody maintenance checks and added six rejuvenation lines to address aircraft defects.
The airline also introduced an additional Boeing production line to increase the pace of retrofit work. These measures have helped improve widebody technical dispatch reliability, which has reached 97.4%, The Hindu Business Line flagged.
Air India is therefore pursuing fleet growth alongside a broad reliability and customer-experience overhaul.
Annual salary increments for all employees, including ground staff and cabin crew, will also take effect from October 1, 2026, while revised pilot remuneration will begin on the same date.
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