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As of November 2024, Air India operates a fleet of both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft with a fleet consisting of Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo, A350 as well as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787, making for a total of 140 aircraft.[1]

Fleet development

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In 1932, Air India started operations with the De Havilland Puss Moth aircraft. On 21 February 1960, Air India International inducted its first Boeing 707 named Gauri Shankar (registered VT-DJJ), thereby becoming the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft in its fleet.[2][3] In 1971, the airline took delivery of its first wide-body aircraft, a Boeing 747-200B named Emperor Ashoka (registered VT-EBD).[4] In 1986, Air India introduced its first Airbus aircraft, an Airbus A310-300.[5] On 4 August 1993, Air India took the delivery of its first Boeing 747-400 named Konark (registered VT-ESM).[6][unreliable source][7] Indian Airlines introduced the Airbus A320 family of aircraft in 1989 and the smaller Airbus A319s in 2005, which are now used by Air India on domestic and regional routes, respectively.[5] On 11 January 2006, Air India announced an order for 68 jets – 8 Boeing 777-200LR, 15 Boeing 777-300ER, 18 Boeing 737-800 and 27 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The eighteen Boeing 737s ordered were later transferred to Air India Express when Air India took delivery of the Dreamliners.[8] After the merger with Indian Airlines in 2007, Air India inducted the Airbus A321 in its fleet to operate mainly on short-haul international routes and leased the Airbus A330s to operate on medium-haul international routes.

The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 777-200LR aircraft on 26 July 2007, which was named Andhra Pradesh, and the first Boeing 777-300ER on 9 October 2007, which was named as Bihar.[9][unreliable source] The carrier sold three Airbus A300 and one Boeing 747 in March 2009 for US$18.75 million, due to debts.[10] It also sold five of its eight Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to Etihad Airways in December 2013.[11] Air India received its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on 6 September 2012, commencing flights on 19 September 2012, which along with 777s, have since replaced the aging and fuel-inefficient 747s in the fleet of international routes.[12] On 21 April 2014, Air India decided to sell its remaining three Boeing 777-200LRs as well, citing higher operating costs.[13] On 24 April 2014, Air India issued a tender for leasing 14 Airbus A320 aircraft for up to six years, to strengthen its domestic network.[14]

Many years later, in December 2022, a day after the merger announcement with Vistara, it was reported that Air India would order nearly five hundred new aircraft.[15][16] On 14 February 2023, Air India announced an order for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing consisting of 210 A320neo family, 40 A350, 190 737 MAX for Air India Express, 20 787-9 and 10 777-9 aircraft at a cost of US$70 billion, with deliveries beginning in late 2023.[17] The airline announced that it would be leasing 36 aircraft, 25 narrow-body aircraft and 11 wide-body aircraft, till the delivery of the newly ordered planes.[18] On 26 March 2023, Air India took delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, albeit a leased one.[19] As part of its fleet restructuring, Air India unveiled its new logo, livery and branding on 10 August 2023 and received its first re-branded aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, on 23 December 2023.[20][21] On 22 April 2024, Air India sold four Boeing 747 aircraft to the US company AerSale, which will convert two into freighters and scrap the other two.[22]

Air India has planned a $400 million refit program for its legacy aircraft fleet. On 16 September 2024, the first phase of the refit began in which 27 older A320neo and 40 Boeing widebody aircraft will be retrofitted with new seats, cabin and livery. VT-EXN, an A320neo, has been parked in a hangar and will be the first to be retrofitted. The aircraft will be delivered and enter service in December 2024 after its prototyping phase and certification. The rest of the 27 narrowbody aircraft's upgradation and modernisation will continue at the rate of 3 to 4 aircraft per month. The upgrade of the narrowbodies is set to be completed by mid-2025.[23][24]

Current fleet

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As of November 2024, Air India operates the following aircraft:[25][unreliable source][26][a]

Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Refs Notes
F C W Y Total
Airbus A319-100 8 — — 8 — 114 122 [27] To be retired and replaced with Airbus A320neo[28]
Airbus A320-200 4 — — 12 — 138 150 [29]
3 — 180 180 18 single-class A320 and A320neo being transferred to Air India Express[30][31]
Airbus A320neo 27 90[32] — 12 — 150 162 Being refurbished with a three-class configuration[23]
6 — 180 180 18 single-class A320 and A320neo being transferred to Air India Express[30][31]
10 to be transferred from Vistara[33]
7 186 186
8 8 24 132 164 [34] 6 to be leased[35]
43 to be transferred from Vistara[33]
Airbus A321-200 13 — — 12 — 170 182 [36]
Airbus A321LR — — — 12 24 152 188 [37] 4 to be transferred from Vistara[33]
Airbus A321neo 2 195[32] — 12 — 180 192 [38]
2 — 232 232
— 12 24 152 188 6 to be transferred from Vistara[33]
Airbus A350-900 6 19[32] — 28 24 264 316 [39] 6 taken from an Aeroflot order, retaining interior configuration[40]
Airbus A350-1000 — 25[32] TBA Order with 5 options[41][32]
Boeing 777-200LR 3 — 8 35 — 195 238 [42] To be refurbished from 2025[23][43]
5 — 28 48 212 288 Former Delta Air Lines aircraft
Boeing 777-300ER 13 — 4 35 — 303 342 [44] To be refurbished with a four-class configuration from 2025[23][45]
6 8 40 280 328 Former Etihad Airways aircraft
Boeing 777-9 — 10 TBA [46]
Boeing 787-8 23 — — 18 — 238 256 [47] To be refurbished from 2025[23]
4 241 259
Boeing 787-9 — 20 TBA Order with 20 options[46]
— — — 30 21 248 299 7 to be transferred from Vistara[33]
36 226 292
Total 140 359

Special Liveries

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Aircraft Aircraft Registration Livery
Airbus A319-100 VT-SCS Mahatma Gandhi 150th Anniversary[48]
Airbus A320neo VT-CIO Mahatma Gandhi 150th Anniversary[49]
VT-EXO Star Alliance[50]
Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALG Mahatma Gandhi 150th Anniversary[51]
Boeing 777-300ER VT-ALJ Star Alliance[52][53]
VT-ALN Celebrating India[54]
VT-ALT Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav[55]
Boeing 787-8 VT-ANC Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav[56]
VT-ANP Mahatma Gandhi 150th Anniversary[57]
VT-ANQ Guru Nanak 550 Years Celebration[58]
VT-ANU Star Alliance[59]

Former fleet

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Air India Airbus A330-200
Air India Airbus A310-300
Air India Boeing 767-300ER
Boeing 707 in 1976
Air India Lockheed Super Constellation in 1961 at Prague Ruzyně Airport
Air India Douglas DC-3 at Heathrow Airport in 1958
Air India Boeing 747-400
Air India Boeing 747-200
Past aircraft operated by Air India[25][unreliable source][60]
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Replacement Notes
Airbus A300B4-100 1 1994 1994 Airbus A321
Airbus A300B4-200 3 1982 2002 Airbus A321
Airbus A310-300 28 1986 2016 Boeing 787-8
Airbus A319-100 15 2009 2024 Airbus A320neo
1 2021 Transferred to DRDO as a testbed aircraft[61]
Airbus A320-200 38 2007 2019 Airbus A320neo
2 2015 2024 Transferred to Air India Express
Airbus A321-200 1 2007 2019 Airbus A321neo
6 2022 To be converted into AEW&C for the Indian Air Force[61]
Airbus A330-200 2 2008 2015 Boeing 787-8
Boeing 707-300B 3 1962 1989 Boeing 747-200
Boeing 747-300M
Boeing 707-300C 2 1964 1990 Boeing 747-200
Boeing 747-300M
Boeing 707-400 4 1960 1984 Boeing 747-200
1 1966 None Crashed as Flight AI101
1 1982 Crashed as Flight AI403
Boeing 737-200 5 2007 2011 Airbus A320
Boeing 747-200B 9 1971 2004 Boeing 747-400
Boeing 777-200
Boeing 777-200ER 		VT-EGC forward fuselage preserved at Thakur Polytechnic, Mumbai[62]
1 1978 None Crashed as Flight AI855
1 1985 Destroyed by a bomb as Flight AI182
1 1987 1988 Boeing 747-300M
Boeing 747-300 1 2005 2007 Boeing 777-300ER Leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic
Boeing 747-300M 2 1988 2008 Boeing 777-300ER VT-EPX (nicknamed Narasimha Varman) scrapped at Kemble Airfield in 2009 after being sold due to financial crunch.[63] VT-EPW(nicknamed Shivaji) broken up at BOM in 2011 after being in storage.[64]
Boeing 747-400M 1 2005 2008 Boeing 777-300ER Purchased used from Air Canada, sold to Dubai Royal Air Wing
Boeing 747-400 13 1993 2024 Airbus A350-900
Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777-300ER
Boeing 777-9 		Last 4 deregistered in 2022, sold to AerSale in April 2024, which will convert 2 into freighters and scrap the other 2(VT-EVA stored at ROW).[65] VT-ESM scrapped in May 2011 at BOM after written off by fire damage.[66] VT-ESN stored in June 2014 and broken up in December 2020 at BOM.[67] 3 leased from Korean Air between 2002 and 2006. 3 used aircraft purchased from Singapore Airlines, 1 from Malaysia Airlines and used between 2004 and 2008.
Boeing 757-200 1 2007 2007 None
Boeing 767-300ER 2 2006 2008 None
1 2007 2007
Boeing 777-200 1 2006 2010 Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777-300ER 		Leased from United Airlines
Boeing 777-200ER 3 2005 2011 Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777-300ER 		Leased from United Airlines
Boeing 777-200LR 5 2008 2014 None Sold to Etihad Airways
De Havilland Comet Un­known 1950s 1950s None
De Havilland Dragon Rapide Un­known 1930s 1940s None
De Havilland Fox Moth Un­known 1930s 1930s None
De Havilland Puss Moth Un­known 1929 1932 None
Douglas DC-2 15 1934 1940 Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3 Un­known 1936 1970s Douglas DC-4
Douglas DC-4 Un­known 1948 Unknown None
Douglas DC-8-60F 15 1977 1988 Boeing 747-200
Douglas DC-8-70F 1983 1995 Boeing 747-200
Ilyushin Il-62M Un­known 1989 1990 Airbus A310
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 5 1995 1996 Boeing 747-400
Lockheed L-749 Constellation 4 1951 1972 None
1 1950 Crashed as Flight AI245
1 1955 Destroyed by a bomb as Flight AI300
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation 10 1956 1970s None
Percival Petrel Un­known 1930s 1930s None
Vickers VC.1 Viking 9 1947 1960s None
Waco YQC-6 Un­known 1939 Unknown None

Notes

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  1. ^ As per official website, the fleet count is 128. As the official website does not give the split by aircraft type, other sources have been used for the section, which differs from the count given in the official website

References

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  1. ^ "Fleet Details". Air India. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  2. ^ Sabharwal, Gopa (2007). India Since 1947: The Independent Years. Penguin India. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-14-310274-8.
  3. ^ Sean Mendis. "Air India : The history of the aircraft fleet". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Theory on Air India Crash Backed by a Pilot". The New York Times. 21 April 1985. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Timeline: Air India". Air India. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  6. ^ "VT-ESM Air India Boeing 747–437". PlaneSpotters. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  7. ^ Jethmalani, Ram. "The dying Maharaja's last sigh". Sunday Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  8. ^ "All 27 Dreamliners to be delivered by 2016". Business Standard. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  9. ^ "VT-ALJ Air India Boeing 777–337(ER)". PlaneSpotters. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  10. ^ "AI sells 4 aircraft in Mar to tackle financial crunch". The Financial Express. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  11. ^ PTI (7 December 2013). "Air India firms up deal to sell five Boeing 777 to Etihad". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  12. ^ "Air India's Dreamliner to be in service from Sep 19". IBN live. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Choudury, Santanu (21 April 2014). "Air India to Sell Rest of 777-200 Fleet". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  14. ^ "Air India seeks to lease 14 Airbus A320 aircraft". Reuters. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  15. ^ "Tata's Air India to buy Airbus, Boeing 500 jets in $100+ billion deal: Report". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Air India set to order around 500 jets, says aircraft lessors". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Air India Announces Order for 470 Aircraft". The Hindu. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Expansion mode: Air India to lease 36 new planes, almost 30 of its grounded aircraft to fly again soon". The Times of India. 5 December 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Air India welcomes its first airbus A321neo". Business Today. 26 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Air India unveils new logo, branding and plane livery". The Times of India. 10 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Air India's first Airbus A350 aircraft arrives, to enter commercial service in January". The Indian Express. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  22. ^ Majumder, Arindam (18 April 2024). "air india: Air India bids adieu to 'your palace in the sky' - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Air India to go luxury with 400 million overhaul budget". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Air India begins $400 million refit programme with VT-EXN, a single-aisle A320neo". The New Indian Express. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Air India Fleet Details and History". planespotters.net. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Orders and deliveries". Airbus. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Airbus 319 (Mixed Configuration)". Air India. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022.
  28. ^ Sipinski, Dominik (1 June 2023). "Air India to start taking B737 MAX in 3Q23, A350 in 4Q23". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 27 January 2024. Wilson said that at least nine A319s would be retired in the next 12 months, with many other aircraft due to return to their lessors.
  29. ^ "A320-214 CEO (Mixed configuration)". Air India. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Air India Express To Get 20 Airbus A320 Planes From Parent Company". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  31. ^ a b Phadnis, Aneesh (7 July 2024). "Air India to beef up AI Express fleet with 20 Airbus planes". BusinessLine. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  32. ^ a b c d e Sinha, Saurabh (11 October 2024). "Air India bumps up Airbus order by 85 aircraft". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d e "Vistara to merge with Air India from November 12". 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Comfort ahoy: Like Vistara, Air India single aisles to have business, premium eco & eco cabins by next year". The Times of India. 19 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  35. ^ "Tata Group's Air India to lease 12 more aircraft comprising A320 neo, Boeing 777". The Economic Times. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Air India Airbus A321". Air India. 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
  37. ^ "Vistara becomes the first airline in India to add Airbus A321LR to its fleet".
  38. ^ "Air India Begins A321neo Scheduled Service From June 2023". AeroRoutes. 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  39. ^ "Seat Map and Interior Specifications: Airbus A350-900". www.airindia.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  40. ^ Joshi, Ameya (6 December 2023). "Air India's jumbo Airbus order has undergone a big change". www.mint.com. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  41. ^ "Rolls-Royce announces biggest ever order of Trent XWB-97 engines as Air India signs MOU for 68 (plus 20 options) and 12 Trent XWB-84 engines" (Press release). Rolls Royce. 14 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Air India Boeing 777-200LR". Air India. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
  43. ^ "The Tatas were expected to quickly revive Air India. We are still waiting". Hindustan Times. 27 January 2024.
  44. ^ "Air India Boeing 777-300ER (77W)". Air India. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
  45. ^ "Air India cabin interiors refurbishment Boeing 777 300ER". Business Traveller. 11 August 2023.
  46. ^ a b "Air India Selects Up to 290 Boeing Jets to Serve Its Strategy for Sustainable Growth" (Press release). Boeing. 14 February 2023.
  47. ^ "Air India B787-8 Configuration" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  48. ^ "VT-SCS Air India Airbus A319-112". Planespotters.net. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  49. ^ "Air India pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi with customised aircraft". India Today. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  50. ^ "VT-EXO, Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  51. ^ "VT-ALG, Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  52. ^ "Air India's Boeing 777-300ER in Star Alliance special livery". Bangalore Aviation. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  53. ^ "VT-ALJ, Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  54. ^ "VT-ALN, Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  55. ^ "VT-ALT, Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  56. ^ "VT-ANC Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner". Planespotters.net. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  57. ^ "VT-ANP - Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  58. ^ "VT-ANQ, Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  59. ^ "VT-ANU, Air India". Flightradar24. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  60. ^ "Air India fleet". Airwhiners.net. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  61. ^ a b "Gov't to convert six Air India jets for AEW&C missions". Ch-Aviation. 19 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  62. ^ "VT-EGC Status".
  63. ^ "VT-EPX".
  64. ^ "VT-EPW".
  65. ^ Majumder, Arindam (18 April 2024). "air india: Air India bids adieu to 'your palace in the sky'". The Economic Times. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  66. ^ "VT-ESM".
  67. ^ "VT-ESN".
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