Air India places fresh order for 30 Boeing narrow-body aircraft as fleet overhaul gathers pace
The order comprises 20 Boeing 737-8 and 10 Boeing 737-10 aircraft
Air India on Thursday added fresh momentum to its sweeping fleet renewal programme, announcing a new order for 30 Boeing narrow-body aircraft as it looks to scale up capacity, deepen regional connectivity and support its long-term global ambitions. The latest purchase, unveiled at Wings India 2026, showed the airline’s intent to lock in steady aircraft deliveries over the coming years while consolidating Boeing’s role at the core of its single-aisle operations.
The order comprises 20 Boeing 737-8 and 10 Boeing 737-10 aircraft. These 30 jets are in addition to the 220 aircraft that Air India had placed firm orders for with Boeing in 2023, taking the airline’s total Boeing order book to 250 aircraft. Wings India 2026 is one of Asia’s premier civil aviation events.
With this latest commitment, Air India now has 198 new aircraft scheduled to be delivered by Boeing. From the original 220 aircraft ordered in 2023, the airline has already taken delivery of 52. These include 51 Boeing 737-8 aircraft that are currently operating with Air India Express, the group’s value carrier, and one brand-new Boeing 787-9. The 787-9 is set to enter commercial service on the Mumbai–Frankfurt route from 1 February 2026.
Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said the additional aircraft order was aligned with the airline’s long-term fleet strategy. “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,” he said.
Wilson said that the order builds on the airline’s 2023 commitments and supports steady deliveries and fleet upgrades planned over the next few years.
Boeing said the expanded order reflected the strong performance of Air India’s existing 737-8 fleet. Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India and South Asia, said the 737-8 and 737-10 would provide the capacity and versatility needed as Air India continues to expand connectivity across India and the South Asia region.
Powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines, the Boeing 737 aircraft are designed to offer improved fuel efficiency, passenger comfort and operational reliability for high-frequency single-aisle operations.
Since its privatisation in January 2022, the Air India group has added nearly 170 aircraft to its fleet through new deliveries, strategic leases, the merger of erstwhile Vistara into Air India, and the reactivation of long-grounded aircraft, underlining the scale of its capacity expansion and fleet modernisation drive.
