What happened
- 787-8 Retrofit: The first reconfigured 787-8 (registration VT-ANT) is expected to enter service on the Delhi (DEL) to London (LHR) route on May 1, 2026. A second aircraft (VT-ANP) will join shortly after, followed by a third (VT-ANC). The route will expand to Mumbai (BOM) on June 30, 2026. All 26 legacy 787-8s will be reconfigured by July 2027. The new configuration features 250 seats: 20 business, 25 premium economy, and 205 economy.
- 777-300ER Retrofit: The first 777-300ER is expected to be reconfigured in early 2027, with all 13 aircraft completed by October 2028. These aircraft will receive an interim soft refresh (seat covers, carpets) in the meantime.
- Scope: The retrofit covers all legacy Air India 787-8s and 777-300ERs. Legacy Vistara 787-9s are not included in this specific interior refresh plan.
- Context: Delays due to supply chain issues have pushed the original late-2026 completion target to late 2028
Air India is accelerating the retrofit of its legacy wide-body fleet, specifically the Boeing 787-8 and 777-300ER aircraft, as part of a $400+ million investment. The project introduces a new premium economy cabin across the long-haul fleet and refreshes business class. Key details: