NewKerala.com

Air India Upgrades 15 Airbus Orders to XLR Jets, Expands Boeing Fleet

Air India has announced the conversion of 15 Airbus A321neo orders to the longer-range A321XLR variant. The airline also signed a component services agreement with Boeing for its 787 fleet and placed an order for 30 additional Boeing 737 aircraft. CEO Campbell Wilson stated the airline is entering a pivotal transformation phase with new widebody deliveries, including its first custom-built 787-9. The developments were announced at the Wings India 2026 event in Hyderabad.

Key Points: Air India Converts Orders to A321XLR, Adds 30 Boeing Jets

  • Converts 15 A321neo orders to A321XLR
  • Signs Boeing CSP for 787 fleet
  • Orders 30 more Boeing 737 jets
  • First line-fit 787-9 Dreamliner arrives
2 min read

Air India converts 15 Airbus A321neo orders to latest generation A321XLR

Air India converts 15 Airbus A321neo orders to A321XLR, signs Boeing services deal, and orders 30 more 737 jets at Wings India 2026.

"So this year is a real year of transformation for Air India. - Campbell Wilson"

Hyderabad, January 29

Air India on Thursday announced the conversion of 15 of its current orders for Airbus A321neo aircraft to the advanced Airbus A321XLR variant.

The conversion of the orders was announced today on the sidelines of Wings India 2026, one of Asia's premier civil aviation events, in Hyderabad.

Air India signed a multi-year agreement with Boeing Global Services for the Component Services Program (CSP), covering its entire Boeing 787 fleet, including existing aircraft and those on order.

In parallel, Air India also confirmed an order for 30 additional Boeing single-aisle aircraft, comprising 20 737-8 and 10 737-10 jets, taking its total Boeing aircraft orders to 250. Air India had placed firm orders for 470 aircraft in 2023, of which 220 were with Boeing.

Sakthi Group and Omnipol are signing a Memorandum of Understanding to bring the globally proven L410 NG 19-seater aircraft to India, including the assessment of modalities for setting up a final assembly line in the country.

The developments come a few days after Air India ushered in a significant new chapter in its transformation journey with the arrival of its first line-fit Boeing 787-9, custom-built for the airline.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, while speaking to ANI, highlighted that the airline is entering a pivotal phase with the introduction of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, specifically designed and built for the carrier.

"So this year is a real year of transformation for Air India. We have the first of these line-fit 787 Dreamliners coming. We have three more coming this year, two more A350 1000s towards the end of the year," he said.

Wilson mentioned that it was wonderful to show it to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. According to Wilson, "This year, we're going to see at least 20 of these world-class widebody aircraft operating the Air India fleet to Europe, to East Asia, to Australia, and more to come... Certainly, in 2027 and 2028, we see a huge transformation in the Air India long-haul wide-body fleet. The domestic fleet has already been nearly entirely upgraded. So it means a better product for people, a higher business class cabin to accommodate more corporate traffic"

Wilson projected a huge transformation in the Air India long-haul wide-body fleet through 2027 and 2028. The airline also begins taking delivery of retrofitted legacy aircraft, specifically the 787-8s, as part of its fleet modernisation strategy.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
All these new aircraft orders are impressive, but what about the passenger experience on the ground? The new Bangalore terminal is chaos, and baggage handling is still a hit or miss. Please focus on the basics too.
A
Arjun K
This is the kind of ambition we need from our national carrier. Converting to the XLR variant shows they're thinking strategically about route expansion. Direct flights from tier-2 cities to international destinations could be a game changer.
S
Sarah B
As a frequent flyer on the Delhi-London route, I'm really looking forward to the new 787-9s. The current product feels dated. A "huge transformation" can't come soon enough. Hope the business class is competitive with Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
K
Karthik V
The part about assessing a final assembly line for the L410 in India is the real news! Building aviation manufacturing here is crucial for the long term. Hope the MoU leads to concrete steps and jobs.
M
Michael C
A mix of Airbus and Boeing orders is smart—don't put all your eggs in one basket. The scale of this fleet renewal is massive. If they pull it off, Air India could truly become a global premium carrier again. Fingers crossed.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50