Latest news with #787-8s
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Air India to upgrade critical components of 26 Dreamliners to reduce operational issues
Air India on Sunday said it will upgrade the avionics and other critical components of its 26 legacy B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft to reduce operational disruptions as well as improve overall reliability. Air India said it will be upgrading the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787 (HT file photo) In recent times, the airline has faced operational issues with some of its planes, including the Dreamliner. Air India's Dreamliners -- 26 legacy 787-8s and seven 787-9s -- had undergone checks, including that of fuel switches, after the fatal crash of a London Gatwick-bound 787-8 plane soon after take off from Ahmedabad that killed 260 people on June 12. Under the USD 400 million fleet retrofit programme announced in December 2022, the Tata Group-owned airline has now started the retrofit of the first legacy Dreamliner, which was flown to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California in July 2025. "A second aircraft is scheduled to depart for the same facility in October 2025, with both expected to return to service in December 2025," the carrier said in a statement on Sunday. As part of a Reliability Enhancement Programme, the airline said it will be upgrading the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft up to the latest industry standards, thus improving their reliability. "The programme entails the analysis of maintenance and configuration records for these aircraft, followed by the implementation of recommended modifications based on Boeing's service information bulletins. "This is intended to reduce operational disruptions for both Air India and its customers," the statement said. Additionally, the airline said seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville, ensuring the fleet's long-term operational excellence. The retrofit of the legacy Dreamliners is expected to be completed by mid-2027 and the retrofitted planes will have a three-class configuration -- Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class seats. "Starting in early 2027, Air India will additionally retrofit 13 of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, aiming for completion by October 2028, with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays," the statement said. Air India has around 190 narrow-body and wide-body planes. The airline's retrofit programme for 27 legacy A320 neo aircraft that commenced last September is expected to be completed in September this year. So far, 16 A320neo aircraft have been retrofitted. Air India has also decided to retrofit its 13 legacy A321 ceo planes that were earlier planned to be taken out of service.
The Hindu
21 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Air India to upgrade avionics, critical components of Dreamliners to reduce operational issues
Air India on Sunday (August 10, 2025) said it will upgrade the avionics and other critical components of its 26 legacy B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft to reduce operational disruptions as well as improve overall reliability. In recent times, the airline has faced operational issues with some of its planes, including the Dreamliner. Air India's Dreamliners — 26 legacy 787-8s and seven 787-9s — had undergone checks, including that of fuel switches, after the fatal crash of a London Gatwick-bound 787-8 plane soon after take off from Ahmedabad that killed 260 people on June 12. Under the $400 million fleet retrofit programme announced in December 2022, the Tata Group-owned airline has now started the retrofit of the first legacy Dreamliner, which was flown to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California in July 2025. "A second aircraft is scheduled to depart for the same facility in October 2025, with both expected to return to service in December 2025," the carrier said in a statement on Sunday (August 10, 2025). As part of a Reliability Enhancement Programme, the airline said it will be upgrading the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft up to the latest industry standards, thus improving their reliability. "The programme entails the analysis of maintenance and configuration records for these aircraft, followed by the implementation of recommended modifications based on Boeing's service information bulletins. "This is intended to reduce operational disruptions for both Air India and its customers," the statement said. Additionally, the airline said seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville, ensuring the fleet's long-term operational excellence. The retrofit of the legacy Dreamliners is expected to be completed by mid-2027 and the retrofitted planes will have a three-class configuration — Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class seats. "Starting in early 2027, Air India will additionally retrofit 13 of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, aiming for completion by October 2028, with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays," the statement said. Air India has around 190 narrow-body and wide-body planes. The airline's retrofit programme for 27 legacy A320 neo aircraft that commenced last September is expected to be completed in September this year. So far, 16 A320neo aircraft have been retrofitted. Air India has also decided to retrofit its 13 legacy A321 ceo planes that were earlier planned to be taken out of service.
Malaysia Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Air India targets legacy fleet reliability boost with Singapore Airlines partnership: AI CEO
By Shafali Nigam New Delhi [India], August 8 (ANI): Air India is intensifying efforts to improve the reliability of its legacy aircraft fleet, spanning the Airbus A320 family, Boeing 787s and Boeing 777s, as part of a wider operational upgrade programme, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson told its staff on Friday in a town hall meeting. According to sources, the airline has zeroed in on persistent bottlenecks such as supply chain delays and spare parts shortages. It is working directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to fast-track solutions. The strategy involves close collaboration with shareholder partner Singapore Airlines, exchanging best practices on engineering, maintenance planning and operational efficiency. During the meeting, CEO Campbell told airline employees that Air India is collaborating with our shareholder partner, Singapore Airlines, to exchange notes on industry best practices, sources said. Sources said that the reliability push dovetails with Air India's multi-year retrofit programme, which aims to modernise cabin interiors and systems on both narrowbody and widebody aircraft. On the operational front, Air India has begun the long-awaited retrofit of its legacy fleet. The first Boeing 787-8 widebody aircraft was sent to the US in July, with its return expected by December 2025. After that, two aircraft will undergo retrofit every month, with all 25 remaining 787-8s upgraded by June 2027. In the narrowbody segment, 14 of 27 A320neo aircraft have already been retrofitted and returned to service, with the remainder set for completion by September 2025, the CEO said. Despite recent operational challenges - including the Iran airspace closure and engineering safety pauses - Air India's performance metrics remain strong. In the last two months alone, the carrier has flown approximately 4.4 million passengers across 33,000 flights, averaging 108,000 passengers daily with a year-to-date load factor of 84%, the CEO said. On-time performance targets of 80% for domestic and 72% for international services are being met, while the airline's Net Promoter Score (NPS) rebounded sharply to 35 in July 2025, up from 23 in June and just 5 in July last year, the CEO added. Sources also said that the CEO said in the meeting that 'more than 600 people across the Tata Group - under the banner of Air India Angels & Caregivers - mobilised in Ahmedabad to assist the next of kin of those impacted by the incident. Senior leadership has remained in constant touch with the families of crew members, while the airline has already disbursed interim relief compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to 194 families. For employees, Air India has launched an array of support programmes, including Care Circles for ground and cabin crew, Reflection Sessions at its Aviation Academy, one-on-one counselling, peer support through Buddy @ AI, and online yoga sessions led by instructors from TCS Yoga Council and the Indian Yoga Association, the CEO said. (ANI)
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Air India kicks off cabin overhaul of legacy Boeing Dreamliners, first revamped aircraft to return by December
Air India has finally kicked off the retrofit of its legacy fleet, with the first Boeing 787-8 widebody aircraft already being sent to the United States for a full upgrade of its cabin. According to a report by ANI, the Boeing 787-8 widebody aircraft sent for retrofit by Air India will return by December this year, after which more aircraft of the fleet will be sent for upgrades. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson told the company's staff on Friday in a town hall meeting that two legacy Boeing aircraft will be sent for retrofit every month after this, with all 25 remaining 787-8s upgraded by June 2027. As for the narrowbody segment, Wilson gave an update saying that retrofitting of all such aircraft will be done by September this year. As many as 14 out of the 27 A320neo aircraft have already been retrofitted and returned to service, the Air India CEO said, as per ANI sources. According to the report, Air India is also ramping up its efforts to improve the reliability of its legacy fleet, including aircraft from the Airbus A320 , Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 families. The company is targetting recurring issues like supply chain delays and spare parts shortages as part of its wider programme of undertaking operational upgrade. The company is working directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to fast-track solutions. The strategy involves close collaboration with shareholder partner Singapore Airlines, exchanging best practices on engineering, maintenance planning and operational efficiency. 'Air India is collaborating with our shareholder partner, Singapore Airlines, to exchange notes on industry best practices," CEO Campbell Wilson said, according to ANI. The multi-year retrofit programme is also part of its operational efficiency plan. Despite recent operational challenges - including the Iran airspace closure and engineering safety pauses - Air India's performance metrics remain strong. In the last two months alone, the carrier has flown approximately 4.4 million passengers across 33,000 flights, averaging 108,000 passengers daily with a year-to-date load factor of 84 per cent, the CEO said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Fixing the fleet: Air India taps Singapore Airlines for best practices, retrofitting of legacy aircraft picks up after Ahmedabad crash
Air India is working with Singapore Airlines to adopt global best practices and improve the reliability of its ageing aircraft fleet, CEO Campbell Wilson told employees during a townhall on Friday, amid heightened regulatory oversight following the June 12 crash of its Boeing 787-8. According to a PTI report citing sources present at the internal meeting, Wilson said the airline has begun retrofitting its wide-body fleet, and the first legacy Boeing 787-8, which was sent to the US for upgrades last month, is expected to rejoin operations by December. Air India aims to retrofit all 26 of its legacy 787-8s by June 2027, and complete upgrades of its 27 older A320 neo aircraft by September 2025. Singapore Airlines, which holds a 25.1% stake in the Tata Group-owned airline, is collaborating with Air India in areas such as engineering, operations, and reliability improvements. 'We are exchanging notes on industry best practices,' Wilson told staff, as per the report. The airline's focus on reliability comes amid reports of technical snags in multiple aircraft, particularly older members of the Airbus A320, Boeing 787, and Boeing 777 families. Air India has also begun a heavy refresh of its legacy 777s, including new seat covers, carpets, cushions, and repairs. This is expected to be completed by the end of the year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dog Raises 3 Tiger Cubs - Years Later Zookeeper Bursts Into Tears When Tiger Does The Unexpected Undo Wilson acknowledged operational challenges triggered by the June 12 crash that killed 260 people. The incident — involving a Dreamliner that crashed into a building shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad — led to increased safety checks and engineering pauses, resulting in temporary service disruption. 'We've identified supply chain and spare part bottlenecks and are working with OEMs to resolve them,' he said. Despite the disruptions, Wilson said Air India's Net Promoter Score (NPS), a key customer satisfaction metric, recovered to 35 in July after dipping to 18 in the days following the accident. Air India operates a fleet of around 190 aircraft, including 33 Dreamliners — 26 legacy 787-8s and 7 newer 787-9s. Once the first retrofitted 787-8 returns in December, two aircraft will be sent each month for upgrades. The refurbished Dreamliners will have a three-class configuration with 20 Business, 25 Premium Economy, and 205 Economy seats, replacing the current two-class layout. In addition, the airline has revived plans to retrofit 13 legacy A321ceo aircraft that were earlier slated for retirement. As of now, 14 of the 27 legacy A320s have been retrofitted. In December 2022, Air India announced a $400 million comprehensive retrofit programme for both its narrow-body and wide-body legacy fleets. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
