Air India has launched an extensive retrofit program for its widebody fleet as part of a $400 million fleet modernization plan.
In July 2025, the airline’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, registered VT-ANT, was sent to Boeing’s facility in California for the first phase of upgrades, with a second 787-8 scheduled to follow in October. According to an Air India statement released on August 10, both aircraft are expected to return to passenger service by December.
The modernization includes a full cabin overhaul featuring new seats across all classes, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, updated carpeting, curtains, upholstery, lavatories, and galleys. Beyond the cabin improvements, the airline is also implementing a Reliability Enhancement Program, upgrading avionics and other key components on the entire B787-8 fleet according to Boeing’s service bulletins to reduce operational disruptions.
“The retrofit program for Air India’s B787-8s will introduce brand-new interiors with a three-class configuration, including Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class. The upgrades align with Air India’s new product and customer experience standards,” the airline wrote in the statement.
The retrofit program will cover all 26 B787-8 aircraft, with seven of them also undergoing heavy scheduled maintenance checks at the Victorville facility.
Air India also plans to begin retrofitting 13 of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft starting in early 2027. However, the carrier warned that due to supply chain delays, the expected completion date was pushed to October 2028.
The airline also provided an update on the ongoing retrofit program for its 27 A320neo aircraft, launched in September 2024 and scheduled for completion by September 2025. So far, 17 aircraft have undergone retrofitting, with the 15th expected to return to service on August 11, 2025.