GURUGRAM- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) will bring the first two fully refurbished Boeing 787-8 aircraft back into service from February 2026, operating from Delhi Airport (DEL). The airline is refreshing cabins across its legacy widebody fleet to improve comfort and the overall travel experience.
On the other hand, IndiGo (6E) plans to induct India’s first Airbus A321XLR in 2026 while expanding international operations from key hubs such as Delhi (DEL) and launching new long-haul routes, including Athens (ATH).
Air India Retrofitted 787
Air India confirmed that the interior refit of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft includes new seats and upgraded inflight entertainment.
The first two aircraft rejoin the fleet in February 2026, with two more refurbished aircraft returning each month after that. This update was shared by Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal in a letter to Maharaj Club loyalty members, outlining the airline’s wider product upgrade plan.
The airline will also receive six new widebody aircraft in 2026, made up of Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s. Work on refitting the Boeing 777 fleet will begin as well.
By the end of 2026, Air India expects around 65 percent of its widebody fleet and more than half of its international services to feature modern cabins.
Passenger facilities on the ground are part of the upgrade. A new flagship international lounge will open at Delhi Airport (DEL) in early 2026. A new lounge will follow at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), along with an upgraded lounge at New York JFK (JFK) and a new domestic lounge at Delhi.
ALSO READ: Air India to Take Delivery of 1st of 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in Q1 2026
IndiGo Eyes 1st A321XLR
IndiGo (6E) acknowledged that earlier disruptions in the year led to thousands of cancelled flights across airports, which caused inconvenience for customers.
The airline apologised and restored normal operations quickly, while focusing on improving reliability and strengthening its systems.
IndiGo expects to carry more than 123 million passengers in 2025, up from 113 million in 2024. Its first Airbus A321XLR will arrive in 2026, allowing the airline to launch more long-range non-stop routes such as Athens (ATH) while also growing the domestic network.
CEO Pieter Elbers noted that the lessons from the past year will help the airline operate more efficiently as it expands.
ALSO READ: IndiGo Airlines to Deploy First A321XLR to This Popular Destination
Bottom Line
Air India is investing in upgraded cabins and lounges to improve long-haul service quality. IndiGo is preparing for wider route expansion with the A321XLR.
Together, these strategies reflect strong demand growth and continued investment across India’s aviation sector.
All Images used in the post are by Harsh Terkiwal | Follow him on his social media pages.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
