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Air India has received the first of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft after undergoing a heavy refresh, with the refurbishment of the remaining 12 planes expected to be completed by the end of the year, officials said on Wednesday.
The airline initially planned a full refit of its legacy B777 aircraft last year, but the process was delayed due to supply chain issues. To address this, Air India opted for a “heavy refresh” of these planes, which includes replacing carpets, seat covers, cushions, and repairing broken seats.
Refurbishment Details
The first refreshed Boeing 777-300ER was upgraded in Singapore, a process that took approximately 50 days. Once back in service, the aircraft will initially operate on domestic routes for a short period before being deployed on ultra-long-haul international routes.
The airline operates 13 legacy B777s, which are primarily used for ultra-long-haul flights connecting Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, as well as major U.S. cities like San Francisco, Chicago, Newark, and New York. These flights typically last over 14 hours.
Air India’s Wide-Body Fleet and Upgrade Plans
Air India currently has a total of 40 legacy wide-body aircraft, comprising 13 B777s and 27 B787s. The airline’s total fleet consists of 198 planes, including:
- 19 Boeing 777-300ERs (including six leased from Etihad Airways)
- 8 Boeing 777-200LRs (five leased from Delta Air Lines)
- 27 legacy Boeing 787-8s
- 7 Boeing 787-9s
- 6 Airbus A350-600s
The first of Air India’s legacy Boeing 787 aircraft is scheduled to undergo retrofitting in April. Additionally, the airline has 14 A321neos, 13 A321ceos, 94 A320neos, 4 A320ceos, and 6 A319s in its narrow-body fleet.
Challenges and Long-Term Plans
Last month, Air India’s MD and CEO, Campbell Wilson, stated that the airline expects to complete the full upgrade of all its legacy wide-body aircraft by mid-2027. The refurbishment is part of a $400 million retrofit program covering both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The first upgraded A320neo under this program has already re-entered service, and Air India expects to retrofit all 27 A320neo planes by the third quarter of this year.
Wilson also highlighted ongoing supply chain challenges affecting the aviation industry. He pointed to issues such as shortages of aircraft engines, seat suppliers, and fuselage components, which have impacted airlines globally.
“The reality is that it is going to remain a supply-constrained market, not just for Air India or India, but worldwide, for another 4-5 years,” Wilson said, adding that the airline, like others, is “a victim of circumstances.”
Despite these challenges, Air India remains committed to modernizing its fleet and enhancing passenger experience. The airline is expected to receive more refreshed and retrofitted aircraft in the coming months.
Sources By Agencies
