New Delhi: Air India will see substantial and visible changes in 2026, CEO Campbell Wilson said on Monday, outlining an extensive transformation plan for the airline’s fleet and passenger experience. His remarks come months after the devastating Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 241 lives on board and several others on the ground, along with a series of challenges faced by the carrier this year.
Calling 2026 “the year of change,” Wilson detailed a broad set of upgrades, including fleet modernisation, enhanced in-flight services such as fine-dining plating and personalised business-class hospitality, and an improved lounge experience across the network.
“2026 will be the year of change for Air India. Tangible things will roll out,” Wilson said during an interaction with reporters at the Air India Training Academy in Gurugram.
According to him, more than half of Air India’s widebody aircraft will feature modern interiors by the end of the 2026 calendar year, while over 85 per cent of the narrowbody fleet already includes the airline’s new product. By year-end, 82 per cent of Air India’s narrowbody fleet — 104 aircraft — will be modern.
For widebody jets, 57 per cent will have upgraded cabins by the end of 2026, with the total widebody count expected to double to 36.
Air India Express is also undergoing a major refresh, with the retrofit of 50 B737-8 aircraft scheduled for completion by mid-2026.
Wilson said the first two retrofitted B787-8 aircraft will return in the first quarter of 2026, and the refurbishment of all 26 legacy B787-8s is on track for completion by mid-2027. The first line-fit B787-9 will join the fleet by the end of 2025. Overall, six new widebody aircraft — A350-1000s and B787-9s — and at least 20 narrowbody aircraft are slated for induction by the end of 2026.
Upgraded aircraft currently operate 52 per cent of the airline’s weekly international flights, a number expected to increase to 81 per cent by late 2026. The share of domestic flights offering the new experience is projected to rise from 80 per cent to 96 per cent over the same period.
Air India also expects to provide the widest global connectivity from India, targeting links to 800 cities through 110 codeshare and interline partnerships.
The airline’s weekly premium-economy capacity — currently 76,000 seats — is set to expand significantly as more new and refurbished aircraft join the fleet.
Wilson added that about 2,000 cabin crew members are receiving monthly upskilling under programmes that include wine masterclasses, mixology sessions, culinary labs and other service-enhancement training modules.
