Air India flies higher with 30 more Boeing 737s, Airbus A321XLR bet

Air India on Thursday doubled down on its fleet expansion plans, announcing an order for 30 additional Boeing single-aisle aircraft as it accelerates its transformation into a global full-service carrier.

The airline will purchase 20 Boeing 737-8 and 10 Boeing 737-10 aircraft, taking its total orders with Boeing to 250 planes. The latest deal builds on the landmark 2023 order for 220 aircraft and was unveiled on the opening day of Wings India 2026, one of Asia’s biggest civil aviation gatherings.

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With the new commitment, Air India now has 198 Boeing aircraft on order. So far, 52 aircraft from the 2023 deal have already been delivered, including 51 Boeing 737-8 jets currently operating with low-cost arm Air India Express. The airline has also received one new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is set to enter commercial service on the Mumbai–Frankfurt route from February 1, 2026.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “This additional order for 30 Boeing 737 aircraft is part of our broader fleet strategy to position Air India firmly 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.

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Boeing said the expanded order reflected Air India’s confidence in the performance of the 737 family as it scales up domestic and regional operations.

The Boeing 737 aircraft are powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines and are designed to deliver improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions and enhanced passenger comfort—key factors as airlines globally focus on cost efficiency and sustainability.

Since its privatisation in January 2022, the Tata Group-owned Air India has added nearly 170 aircraft to its fleet through a mix of new deliveries, leasing, the merger of Vistara into Air India, and the return to service of previously grounded aircraft.

The rapid expansion marks a significant step in modernising one of the world’s oldest airlines and rebuilding its capacity after years of underinvestment.

Bets on longer reach with A321XLR upgrade

Alongside its Boeing expansion, Air India is also sharpening its medium-haul international strategy by upgrading part of its Airbus orderbook.

On the sidelines of Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad, the airline announced it will convert 15 of its existing Airbus A321neo orders into the more advanced A321XLR (Extra Long Range) variant. The move is part of Air India’s landmark Airbus deal signed in 2023, with an additional tranche added in 2024.

Under the broader agreement, Air India has ordered 50 wide-body A350 aircraft and 300 single-aisle jets from the A320 family. Of the 300 narrow-body planes, 210 were A321neo aircraft. The latest conversion applies to 15 of these, while the remaining 195 A321neo and 90 A320neo orders remain unchanged. Deliveries of the A321XLR aircraft are expected between 2029 and 2030.

For Air India, the aircraft opens up new strategic possibilities—allowing the airline to launch non-stop international routes and strengthen high-demand, medium-haul services without deploying wide-body aircraft.