NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New Delhi, India, January 13, 2026: Air India on Monday received its first line-fit (made-for-Air India) Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which touched down at Indira Gandhi International Airport after a non-stop ferry flight from the United States.
The aircraft, registered as VT-AWA, completed a 16-hour-and-58-minute journey from Boeing’s Everett facility in Washington state. The flight was operated by a four-member Air India cockpit crew.
Configured with 296 seats across three cabin classes—Business, Premium Economy, and Economy—the Boeing 787-9 features new cabin interiors installed directly on Boeing’s production line. Air India said details of the interiors will be announced in the coming weeks.
The delivery marks the first of several widebody aircraft expected to join the airline’s fleet in 2026. Air India has indicated that a total of six widebody aircraft, including Airbus A350-1000s and additional Boeing 787-9s, are scheduled for delivery during the year.
As part of its fleet modernization program, Air India is also retrofitting 26 of its existing Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The airline said the retrofits, which include refreshed cabin interiors and updated branding, are underway, with several aircraft expected to return to service in 2026. By the end of the year, nearly 60 percent of the airline’s widebody fleet is expected to feature upgraded interiors.
Air India said the newly delivered Boeing 787-9 is expected to enter international long-haul commercial service in February 2026, with route details to be announced at a later date.
