Air India has started the wide body retrofit programme for its legacy Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The first plane, VT-ANT, flew to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California in July 2025. Meanwhile, a second aircraft is set to depart in October 2025, with both expected to return to service by December 2025.
The retrofit covers 26 B787-8s and is planned for completion by mid-2027. As part of the programme, the aircraft will receive completely new interiors with three classes: Business, Premium Economy and Economy. This includes new seats, advanced inflight entertainment systems, carpeting, curtains, upholstery, lavatories and galleys. In addition, all upgrades will align with Air India’s refreshed product and customer experience standards.
From early 2027, Air India will also begin retrofitting 13 Boeing 777-300ERs. However, this project, now scheduled for completion by October 2028, has been delayed due to supply chain challenges.
Alongside the interior improvements, the airline is implementing a Reliability Enhancement Programme for the 26 B787-8 aircraft. This involves upgrading avionics and other critical systems to meet the latest industry standards. Furthermore, the process includes analysing maintenance and configuration records, followed by modifications based on Boeing’s service bulletins. Ultimately, this work aims to minimise operational disruptions for both Air India and its passengers.
In addition, seven of the B787-8s will undergo heavy scheduled maintenance, known as D-checks, at the Victorville facility. This will help ensure the fleet’s long-term performance and safety.
Meanwhile, Air India’s narrow-body retrofit programme for 27 legacy A320neo aircraft, launched in September 2024, remains on track for completion by September 2025. Notably, the addition of a third production line at GMR’s MRO in Hyderabad has accelerated progress.
So far, 16 A320neos have been retrofitted. The 15th returned to service on 9 August 2025, while the 16th is scheduled for 11 August. The remaining 11 will be finished by September 2025. Consequently, these upgraded narrow-body aircraft, featuring new cabins, are being deployed on key domestic and short-haul international routes, thereby improving the passenger experience across the network.
