Air India is pushing forward its improved passenger experience, with the airline annocing will deploy aircraft featuring new, retrofitted or upgraded cabin interiors on additional key international routes as part of its Northern Summer operations for 2026.
Business Class aboard Air India’s new Boeing 787-9 – Image, Air India.
This move by the airlinewill add capacity on routes, whilst boosting connectivity on select long-haul routes. In addition, some routes will see new products turning up for the first time.
Let’s break down the changes.
Between February and March 2026:
- Effective 14 February, Delhi – Tokyo (Haneda) operates with a Boeing 787-9, featuring a three-class cabin configuration and introducing the Premium Economy cabin on the route. This deployment adds 2408 seats between Delhi and Tokyo (Haneda) every month.
- Starting 01 March, Delhi – Toronto frequency increases from 7x weekly to 10x weekly.
- Starting 29 March, Delhi – Seoul (Incheon) frequency increases from 5x weekly to 6x weekly,
- Also on the 29th March, the newly launched Delhi – Shanghai flights increase from 4x weekly to 5x weekly, thus adding 2048 seats on each of the routes every month.
From 01 July 2026:
- Mumbai – London-Heathrow flights will operate with a combination of Air India’s incoming new Boeing 787-9 and retrofitted legacy Boeing 787-8 aircraft, both featuring all-new cabin interiors. These flights will replace the currently deployed Boeing 777-300ER on the route, which already features upgraded cabin interiors.
- Delhi – Melbourne daily flights will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER featuring upgraded cabin interiors, which will introduce a First Class on the route. The aircraft features 8 suites in First Class, 40 fully flat beds in Business Class and 280 seats in Economy Class, adding nearly 4,000 seats every month between Delhi and Melbourne.
From 01 August 2026:
- Bengaluru-London (Heathrow) flights will operate with the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 787-8 aircraft, featuring new cabin interiors, thus introducing Premium Economy on the route. With this, all Air India flights to and from London (Heathrow) will be serviced by aircraft featuring new cabin interiors.
- The 7x weekly flights on the Delhi – Toronto route will operate with Air India’s incoming, new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, featuring all-new cabin interiors in a three-class configuration and introducing Premium Economy on the route. The remaining 3x weekly flights will continue to operate with Air India’s legacy Boeing 777-300ER. With this, more than 50% of Air India’s North America flights will be operated with new or upgraded cabin interiors.
- Birmingham from Amritsar and Delhi will be operated with Air India’s legacy Boeing 777-300ER, replacing the currently deployed legacy Boeing 787-8 and introducing First Class on this route.
- London (Gatwick) from Ahmedabad and Amritsar will be operated with Air India’s legacy Boeing 777-300ER, replacing the currently deployed legacy Boeing 787-8 and introducing First Class on this.
New and retrofitted Boeing 787s
Air India began retrofitting its legacy Boeing 787-8 last year in an exercise that will see 26 legacy Boeing 787-8 aircraft refitted with brand-new cabin interiors custom-styled for Air India, as well as the repainting of these aircraft in the airline’s vibrant, new livery. The first two of these retrofitted aircraft are expected to return to service in the coming weeks, with several more to be retrofitted progressively throughout 2026.
Additionally, Air India expects deliveries of three new, line-fit (or made-for-Air India) Boeing 787-9 and two line-fit A350-1000 aircraft in 2026.
On the 787-9s, Air India has Business Class seats are by Elevate (The Ascent by Aident), the Recaro PL3530 in Premium Economy and the Recaro CL3710.
Air India Business Class (Elevate Ascent)
Air India Premium Economy featuring Recaro PL3530, shown in full recline position – Image, Air India/Reacro Aircraft Seating.
Recaro CL3710s in Economy Class aboard Air India’s new Boeing 787-9 – Image, Air India/Recaro.
The Best Step Forward
Air India has taken a major step forward with its retrofit, showing off its new products and putting them to work on core routes, across Asia, North America and the United Kingdom, with both new products and, more importantly, extra capacity for passengers (be it in the form of extra flights as new aircraft arrive from manufatueres or refits, or adding extra capacity on flights).
And it’s going to be the best step forward as Air India continues its modernisation and regeneration.
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