Fleet Upgrade: Air India Orders 30 Single-Aisle Aircraft From Boeing, Total Orders At 250 Since 2023

Air India announced on Thursday that it has placed an order to purchase 30 additional Boeing aircraft, consisting of 20 737-8s and 10 737-10s.

These new single-aisle aircraft are in addition to the firm orders for 220 aircraft that Air India had placed with Boeing in 2023, bringing the total number of aircraft orders with Boeing to 250.

The announcement was made at the inauguration of ‘Wings India 2026’, one of Asia’s premier civil aviation events organised by the ministry of civil aviation, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and FICCI.

With this latest order, Air India now has a total of 198 new aircraft incoming from Boeing. The airline has already received 52 aircraft from the original 220 ordered in 2023, including 51 737-8s currently in service

with its subsidiary, Air India Express, and one brand new 787-9, which will enter commercial service between Mumbai and Frankfurt starting from February 1.

Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, said this additional order of 30 Boeing 737 aircraft is part of their broader fleet strategy to position the airline for the future as a world-class global carrier that India deserves and the world expects.

“Building on our 2023 orders and subsequent additions, this order supports steady deliveries and fleet upgrades planned over the next few years,” Wilson said.

Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India, and South Asia, said: “Air India’s order for more 737 MAX jets underscores the strong performance of their existing 737-8 fleet as they continue to expand connectivity across India and the South Asia region.”

“We value Air India’s confidence in the 737-10 and 737-8 to provide the capacity and versatility they need as a cornerstone of their single-aisle growth strategy,” Righi added.

The Boeing 737, powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines, offers exceptional fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and operational reliability for robust single-aisle operations.

Since its privatisation in January 2022, the Air India group has added nearly 170 aircraft to its fleet through a combination of new deliveries, strategic leases, the merger with erstwhile Vistara, and the reactivation of long-grounded aircraft, marking significant progress in capacity expansion and fleet modernisation.

Begumpet airport is hosting ‘Wings India 2026’, Asia’s largest biennial civil aviation event, which runs until January 31.