Air India has taken delivery of its first factory-fresh Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, marking a key milestone in the flag carrier’s widebody renewal and its historic order for 470 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. The jet, registered VT-AWA, is the first of 20 787-9s ordered in 2023 and will pave the way for more Dreamliners and the airline’s first Airbus A350-1000s to join the fleet later this year.
First Line-Fit 787-9 Arrives in Delhi
The new 787-9 completed a nearly 17-hour delivery flight from Boeing’s Everett factory in Washington state before touching down at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. It is Air India’s first “line-fit” 787-9, built from the ground up to the airline’s own cabin specification rather than inherited or retrofitted from another operator.
Configured with 296 seats across three cabins – business, premium economy and economy – the Dreamliner debuts “bespoke cabin interiors” installed directly on the Boeing production line, with full details of the new products to be revealed in the coming weeks. Commercial long-haul operations are expected to begin in February 2026 on an as-yet undisclosed international route.
Part of a 470-Aircraft Megadeal
The 787-9 delivery forms part of Air India’s landmark order for 470 aircraft, comprising 250 Airbus jets and 220 Boeing jets, announced as one of the largest deals in civil aviation history. The widebody element includes 20 Boeing 787-9s, 10 Boeing 777-9s, six Airbus A350-900s and 34 Airbus A350-1000s, aimed at transforming the carrier’s long-haul product and expanding its global network.
According to Air India, 2026 will see a total of six new widebody deliveries – a mix of 787-9s and A350-1000s – including the newly arrived VT-AWA. These aircraft will progressively replace older widebodies and support new nonstop routes between India and key markets in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Upgraded Cabins Across the 787 Fleet
Alongside new deliveries, Air India is in the midst of a major retrofit program for its existing 787-8 fleet. The airline currently operates 26 787-8s and six 787-9s inherited from Vistara, with “many of these aircraft” due to receive new cabins broadly aligned with the standard debuting on VT-AWA by the end of 2026.
The retrofit project, part of a wider US$400 million product investment, will introduce updated business, premium economy and economy seats, new inflight entertainment systems, refreshed interiors and onboard Wi‑Fi across the long-haul fleet. Air India aims to complete the 787-8 cabin upgrades by mid-2027, followed by similar work on its Boeing 777-300ERs.
What This Means for Air India Passengers
For passengers, the arrival of the first factory-fresh 787-9 signals a tangible step forward in Air India’s transformation from legacy flag carrier to modern global network airline. Travellers can expect more consistent cabins across the Dreamliner fleet, a stronger premium economy offering and improved reliability as newer aircraft replace older types on high-demand routes.
With more 787-9s and the first A350-1000s scheduled to join the fleet later this year, Air India’s long-haul product is set for one of its most significant upgrades in decades – a shift that will be closely watched by frequent flyers across India’s rapidly growing international market.
