New Delhi, January 14, 2026, 17:53 IST
- Air India announced its first line-fit Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is set to begin international long-haul operations in February
- The jet, VT-AWA, features 296 seats spread over three cabin classes; details on the cabin layout are expected in the coming weeks
- Air India aims to receive six widebody aircraft in 2026 and is accelerating cabin updates by retrofitting older Dreamliners
Air India announced its first custom Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will begin international long-haul flights in February, following its arrival in New Delhi this week. The plane, registered VT-AWA, offers 296 seats split among business, premium economy, and economy classes. It made the journey straight from Boeing’s Everett plant in Washington state, the airline confirmed.
The delivery gives the Tata Group-owned airline a fresh slate for its long-haul fleet, ending years of inconsistent cabin configurations on older planes. “Throughout 2026, more and more of those routes will be flown by the new, world-class Air India aircraft,” CEO Campbell Wilson said last year. AGN
This comes amid Boeing’s drive to prove it can ramp up production and deliveries once more. The company reported 600 aircraft deliveries in 2025, including 88 Dreamliners, and for the first time in seven years, its net orders surpassed Airbus. Aerospace consultant Scott Hamilton at Leeham described the order book as “a vote of confidence” in Boeing’s recovery. Reuters
PTI reported that Air India finalized the title transfer for its first line-fit Dreamliner on Jan. 7 at Boeing’s Everett facility. The aircraft then touched down in Delhi on Jan. 11. Line-fit means the plane comes off the production line with the airline’s cabin already installed. According to PTI, Air India’s last delivery of a line-fit Dreamliner was back in October 2017.
FlightGlobal reports that VT-AWA marks the first of 20 787s Air India ordered in 2023, part of a record-breaking deal for nearly 500 planes. The airline is set to receive five more widebodies in 2026, including 787-9s and its inaugural Airbus A350-1000. It also plans to deploy the new Dreamliner on a long-haul route yet to be announced.
Air India is working to close the gap between its new deliveries and the planes passengers actually fly on. It’s refurbishing 26 older Boeing 787-8s, with several set to rejoin the fleet in 2026. The airline aims to have nearly 60% of its widebody fleet—those twin-aisle jets used on long-haul routes—featuring upgraded interiors by the end of the year.
The Financial Express, citing PTI, reported that the group has ordered 350 Airbus and 220 Boeing planes, with six Airbus A350 widebodies already in service. It also noted that Air India Express, the budget carrier, now operates 51 Boeing 737-8 narrowbody jets. Together, the Air India group’s fleet has surpassed 300 aircraft.
But the timeline matters as much as the planes themselves. Air India’s expansion hinges on manufacturers meeting delivery targets and the airline completing retrofit work without setbacks. On top of that, court documents reveal the carrier is tangled in a London lawsuit over a June 2025 crash involving a Boeing 787-8, along with separate claims filed in the U.S. against Boeing and Honeywell.
Boeing shares climbed roughly 1.9%, reaching $244.55 in early trading on Wednesday.
Air India hasn’t announced the inaugural route for VT-AWA yet and plans to reveal cabin details in the next few weeks. They’re aiming for February, but the real test will be if the other new widebodies arrive on schedule and remain operational.
