Air India has announced the launch of a comprehensive refit programme worth over US$400 million to revamp 67 legacy aircraft in its fleet. This phased upgrade will introduce a refreshed Air India experience, featuring a modern three-cabin configuration with new seats, carpets, curtains, and upholstery.
The refit process will begin with 27 narrow-body Airbus A320neo aircraft, followed by 40 wide-body Boeing planes. The first narrow-body aircraft to enter the programme is VT-EXN, a single-aisle A320neo, which entered the hangar on Monday. After prototyping and obtaining regulatory approvals, VT-EXN is expected to return to commercial service by December 2024. It will join the eight recently-delivered Air India A320neo aircraft that already feature upgraded cabin interiors and configurations.
Following VT-EXN, between three and four aircraft per month will undergo retrofitting, with the complete narrow-body fleet expected to be upgraded by mid-2025. Air India’s Engineering team will coordinate the project with leading global OEMs such as Collins, Astronics and Thales. Over 15,000 next-generation seats will be installed across Premium Economy, Business and Economy Class.
In parallel, final preparations are underway for the full interior overhaul of 40 legacy wide-body Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. Market-leading seats and inflight entertainment systems have been selected, and interior designs are complete. The airline is working closely with seat manufacturers to finalise regulatory certification and expedite production. Subject to supply chain constraints, the first wide-body aircraft retrofit is set to begin in early 2025.
