Latest news with #B787-8s
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Air India widebody fleet upgrade delayed again, likely to be done by October 2028
NEW DELHI: Air India's upgrade of its legacy widebody fleet has been delayed again. The airline now hopes to complete the task by October 2028, about a year longer than the five-year plan announced earlier. Supply chain constraints since Covid have delayed Tata's $400 million fleet retrofit programme for "delivering a world class flying experience and enhancing operational reliability across its legacy fleet". The airline said it had finally started the upgrade programme for its legacy widebody fleet with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The work is now expected to finish by October 2028, "with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays". In its last few cash-starved state-owned years, Air India had no funds for cabin maintenance or upkeep, and poor in-flight experience on those planes remains among the biggest irritants for passengers on long-haul routes on which these aircraft are deployed. "Air India has commenced the widebody retrofit programme for its legacy B787-8 aircraft, with the first of 26 aircraft (VT-ANT) having flown to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California, in July. A second aircraft is scheduled to depart for the same facility in Oct, with both expected to return to service in December. Retrofit programme for Air India's B787-8s, now on a steady schedule for completion by mid-2027, will introduce brand-new interiors featuring a three-class configuration," the airline said in a statement. Starting early 2027, the airline will additionally retrofit 13 of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, aiming for completion by Oct 2028, with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays. As part of a reliability enhancement programme, Air India said it would upgrade the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft. "This is intended to reduce operational disruptions." Additionally, seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) in Victorville. The airline said the retrofit programme for 27 legacy narrowbody A320neo aircraft commenced last Sept. It is "progressing per schedule".
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Air India to upgrade critical components of 26 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to improve reliability
Tata Group-owned Air India announced on Sunday, 10 August 2025, that the airline is set to upgrade its 26-aircraft fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to increase reliability and reduce operational disruptions. 'As part of a Reliability Enhancement Programme, Air India 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,' said Air India in its official announcement. According to the official announcement, the company will analyse the maintenance and configuration records for these aircraft as part of its programme. 'Additionally, seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville, ensuring the fleet's long-term operational excellence,' said the company in the official filing. Air India's Dreamliners' 26 B787-8 aircraft and seven 787-9 aircraft had undergone checks, including that of fuel switches, after the fatal crash of the London Gatwick Air India flight, which crashed moments after take off from Ahmedabad. The accident killed 260 people on 12 June 2025. 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,' said the airline on Sunday. 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. The retrofitted planes will have three-class configurations: 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,' said the company. 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. (With agency inputs from PTI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Air India's refurbishment plan deadline delayed again to 2028
The refurbishment of Air India's long haul fleet has been significantly delayed and will be completed by the end of 2028- a year later after the five year transformation plan that the Tata group had announced earlier, the airline said on Sunday. A Boeing 787 aircraft, the first of the 39 aircraft has been sent to a facility in California last month. The aircraft is expected to return to service in December instead of October as previously announced. Cabin upgrade is a crucial part of the five year transformation program that the group had announced in 2022, to convert the debt-laden airline into a world class airline. However, the program has been delayed multiple times due to supply chain problems as seat manufactures have been strained due to delayed certification from regulators compounded by a manpower shortage after the pandemic. The refurbishment of the 25 787 aircraft will be completed by mid-2027. Part of Air India's ambitious $400 million programme, the retrofits for the 787 fleet were originally scheduled to begin in the second half of 2024 but have faced delays due to supply chain bottlenecks and issues with seat suppliers. The timeline to begin the programme has been revised twice — first to April and then to June. The work on the Boeing 777 fleet will start in 2027. Additionally, the airline will upgrade avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8s to improve reliability. This involves analysing maintenance and configuration records and implementing modifications recommended by Boeing's service bulletins. Air India's engineering and safety practices have come under regulatory scrutiny following the crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft in June killing 241 on board and 19 on the ground. The airline has been put on notice by civil aviation regulator DGCA for operating aircraft fitted with components that were beyond their permitted life. The retrofitting programme for its 27 legacy Airbus A320neo aircraft, which began in September 2024, is 'progressing as scheduled' with completion due in September 2025.
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Air India commences retrofit of wide body aircraft
The retrofit programme for Air India's B787-8s, now on a steady schedule for completion by mid-2027, will introduce brand-new interiors featuring a three-class configuration with Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class seats.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
AI finally begins retrofit of legacy wide body planes; to complete task by October 2028
. NEW DELHI: Air India has finally started the upgrade programme for its legacy wide fleet with the Boeing 787 Dreamliners and the task is now expected to be complete by Oct 2028, 'with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays'. In its last few cash-starved state-owned years, Air India had no funds to spend on cabin maintenance or upkeep and a poor in-flight experience on those planes remains among the biggest irritants for passengers of long haul flights on which these planes are deployed. After taking over AI in January 2022, the Tata Group had announced a $ 400 million fleet retrofit programme 'to delivering a world class flying experience and enhancing operational reliability across its legacy fleet.' However, due to supply chain issues the work has taken longer than originally expected. 'Air India has commenced the widebody retrofit programme for its legacy B787-8 aircraft, with the first of 26 aircraft (VT-ANT) having 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Medical Mystery Solved: Dementia and Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Thing. Memory Health Click Here Undo The retrofit programme for Air India's B787-8s, now on a steady schedule for completion by mid-2027, will introduce brand-new interiors featuring a three-class configuration with business class, premium economy, and economy Class seats. This includes the installation of brand-new seats in each cabin, advanced in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, new carpeting, curtains, upholstery, lavatories, galleys and more - all aligned with the new Air India product and customer experience standards,' AI said in a statement. Starting early 2027, AI 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. As part of a reliability enhancement programme, AI says it will upgrade the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft. '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,' AI said. Additionally, seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville. Narrowbody retrofit programme for 27 legacy A320neo aircraft: AI says this commenced last September. It 'is progressing per schedule, with completion targeted in Sept 2025. The addition of a third line at GMR's MRO in Hyderabad has expedited the process. To date, 15 A320neo aircraft have been retrofitted, with the 15th aircraft having returned to service on August 9, 2025, and the 16th aircraft scheduled to return to service on August 11, 2025. The remaining 11 A320neo will be retrofitted by September 2025,' AI statement said. The upgraded A320neo aircraft that have all-new cabins are being progressively deployed on key domestic and short-haul international routes. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
