Air India’s Chief Executive and Managing Director, Campbell Wilson, has stated that the airline’s operating fleet is unlikely to change significantly in the coming fiscal year due to delays in aircraft deliveries and ongoing refurbishments of wide-body planes. While the airline will take delivery of several narrow-body planes, it will not be able to grow its fleet extensively due to the delays. Wilson noted that the airline will focus on growing its domestic and short-haul international routes, which will be driven by the delivery of new narrow-body aircraft.
Air India currently has a fleet of 198 planes, including 70 inherited from Vistara, and operates 103 aircraft for its low-fare arm, Air India Express. The airline has an order book for 570 planes, including 350 Airbus and 220 Boeing jets, with 20 Airbus aircraft already delivered, including six wide-bodies. Wilson noted that the airline is in talks to acquire dozens of new wide-body jets from Airbus and Boeing.
The airline’s fleet expansion has been significant since its acquisition by the Tata Group in 2022, with the group’s airline fleet growing fourfold and capacity increasing sixfold. However, the airline is facing challenges due to supply chain disruptions at Boeing and Airbus, which could persist for another 4-5 years, according to Wilson. The airline expects to receive its first B787 plane with its new livery in H2 2025 and is also expected to add nine B737 MAX aircraft for its low-fare arm, Air India Express.