Air India has commenced the widebody retrofit programme for its B787-8 aircraft, with the first of 26 aircraft having flown to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California  in July.  A second aircraft is scheduled to depart for the same facility in October 2025, with both expected to return to service this December. The retrofit programme is scheduled for completion by mid-2027.

All interior fittings will be replaced as part of the programme, including seats in each cabin, the IFE systems, plus carpeting, curtains, upholstery, lavatories, galleys and more.

Starting in early 2027, Air India will additionally retrofit 13 of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, aiming for completion by October 2028, with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays.

READ: Turkish Technic wins Air India Express Boeing component services contract

As part of a ‘Reliability Enhancement Programme’, Air India will be upgrading the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft up to the latest industry standards. The programme entails the analysis of maintenance and configuration records for these aircraft, followed by the implementation of recommended modifications based on Boeing’s service information bulletins. This is intended to reduce operational disruptions for both the airline and its customers.

Additionally, seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo D-checks at Victorville. the carrier’s narrowbody retrofit programme for its 27 legacy A320neo aircraft that commenced last September is progressing per schedule, with completion targeted in September 2025. The addition of a third line at GMR’s MRO in Hyderabad has expedited the process.

To date, 16 A320neo aircraft have been retrofitted, with the 15th aircraft having returned to service on 9 August 2025, and the 16th aircraft scheduled to return to service on 11 August 2025. The remaining 11 A320neo will be retrofitted by September 2025.

These upgraded A320neo aircraft, featuring all-new cabins, are currently being deployed on domestic and short-haul international routes.