Air India proudly introduces its first retrofitted B787-8 (registered VT-ANT), marking the completion of a comprehensive nose-to-tail cabin refresh for the first of 26 B787 aircraft.

The aircraft, which received comprehensive interior upgrades at Boeing’s Modification Centre in Victorville, California, was subsequently painted in Air India’s striking new livery at AeroPro, an FAA Part-145 certified aircraft paint facility in San Bernardino, California.

Refreshed cabins, upgraded experience

The retrofit updated the aircraft to a new three-class configuration with modern seats, advanced in-flight entertainment, and features consistent with Air India’s latest widebody standards.

The retrofit involved a coordinated workflow over 45 days, including removing old interiors, installing new seats, overhauling galleys and lavatories, and testing all components.

Significant new materials were used to refurbish the cabins, including new fabric, synthetic leather, carpet, and paint.

• 167 metres of synthetic leather
• 169 metres of carpet
• 646 litres of paint

A 20-member team spent 18 days repainting the aircraft exterior with the new livery.

These custom-styled cabins now feature:

• 20 luxurious private suites in Business Class in a 1-2-1 layout, each offering privacy sliding doors, direct aisle access, 42 inches of pitch, a fully flat 79‑inch bed, a 17‑inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen, multiple charging options, a softly lit cubby, a vanity mirror, a headphone hook, and a jaali‑inspired feature lamp.
• Premium Economy offers 25 seats with enhanced privacy, comfort features, personal screens, and charging ports.
• Economy Class includes 205 ergonomically designed seats with optimised pitch, personal screens, and charging ports.

Additional enhancements across cabins encompass new carpets and curtains, new wall laminates, galley overhauls, a refresh of all lavatories, replacement or refurbishment of overhead bin panels, installation of a new Cabin Service System, and an updated Crew Application Panel interface.

The cabins feature customised versions of the Elevate Ascent seat in Business Class and RECARO PL3530 and CL3710 seats in Premium Economy and Economy Class, respectively. All seats are equipped with Thales’ state-of-the-art AVANT Up in-flight entertainment (IFE) system.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “This is yet another proud milestone in our transformation journey as we welcome this transformed legacy B787 aircraft as a shining beacon of the new Air India. The retrofit of our first widebody aircraft is a visible symbol of the momentum behind Air India’s transformation. With 25 other 787s undergoing this comprehensive refresh, we are rapidly modernising the backbone of our long‑haul fleet and raising the bar for customers flying between India and the world.”

Progress of the retrofit programme

Air India will be retrofitting 25 additional B787 aircraft over the next year, two of which are already undergoing the process, as part of a US$400 million investment to modernise the airline’s legacy fleet. The B787 retrofit programme has been jointly conceptualised and executed with Boeing, ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety in the aircraft and throughout the process.

Upon full completion of the B787 retrofit program by 2027, Air India aims to significantly upgrade the onboard product and passenger experience on over 300 flights per week to destinations across the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Air India will subsequently retrofit 13 of its legacy B777-300ER aircraft.

This initiative is a key part of Air India’s broader fleet modernisation, designed to deliver higher comfort, improved privacy, better entertainment, and an elevated overall travel experience, reinforcing Air India’s position as a premium global carrier in the eyes of passengers.