Air India Announces Major Fleet Expansion

The airline plans to grow its fleet because passenger numbers are rising and its international services need enhancements. The announcement was made at the Wings India-2026 event in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Update on Airbus Orders

Air India changed its earlier order with Airbus. The airline will convert 15 of its 210 A321neo aircraft to the A321XLR (Extra Long Range) model. The delivery of these aircraft is expected to take place between 2029 and 2030.

The A321XLR can fly up to 4,700 nautical miles (approximately 8,700 kilometers) without refueling. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson stated that the aircraft will be used to launch more non-stop international flights.

New Boeing Aircraft

Air India also confirmed the purchase of 30 new Boeing aircraft. The order consists of 20 Boeing 737-8 planes and 10 Boeing 737-10 planes. The announcement happened during an event which Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu attended.

Air India expanded its Boeing aircraft orders by adding 30 new planes which include the new aircraft order. Since that year, 52 aircraft have already been delivered. Air India Express has 51 Boeing 737-8 aircraft in operational use. The Boeing 787-9 aircraft will start flying on the Mumbai-Frankfurt route from February 1.

Boeing 787 Maintenance Agreement

Air India has signed an agreement with Boeing Global Services for the maintenance of its 787 Dreamliner fleet. Chief Technical Officer Sisir Kanta Dash explained that the agreement enables faster spare part acquisition and simpler repair processes which result in better aircraft operational efficiency.

The airline is expanding its operations because it wants to create greater capacity while establishing better connections with international destinations.