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New Delhi, 19th April 2026: Air India unveiled its first retrofitted, twin-aisle B787-8 (registered VT-ANT), marking the completion of a nose-to-tail cabin refresh of the first of 26 B787 aircraft. The aircraft, which received comprehensive interior upgrades at Boeing’s Modification Center in Victorville, California, was subsequently painted in Air India’s new livery at AeroPro, an FAA Part-145 certified aircraft paint facility in San Bernardino, California. Refreshed cabins, upgraded experience As part of the retrofit, the aircraft interiors were completely reconfigured, transforming it from a two-class layout previously to a modern three-class configuration now with the installation of brand-new seats and inflight entertainment (IFE) system, and bringing the aircraft in line with Air India’s latest widebody product standards, as seen on its new bespoke Boeing 787-9 inducted in January 2026. The first B787 took close to 12,825 manhours over 45 days for the retrofit, as teams progressed through a tightly choreographed workflow – from stripping out the legacy interiors to reconfiguring the cabins, installing new seats, carpets, wall laminates, overhauling galleys, lavatories, and rigorously testing the new seating and cabin components. Refurbishing the first aircraft required a total of: -475 metres of fabric for new seats across cabins -167 metres of synthetic leather -169 metres of carpet -646 litres of paint -The aircraft exterior received a complete makeover as well, with a 20‑member specialist team dedicating over 5,700 hours over 18 days to strip the old livery and meticulously apply the new Air India colours. The 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-inch of pitch, fully flat 79‑inch bed, 17‑inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen, multiple charging options, a softly lit cubby, vanity mirror, headphone hook, and a jaali‑inspired feature lamp. :- 25 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout, each offering enhanced privacy, 38‑inch pitch, 7‑inch recline, 6‑way headrest, calf and leg rest, 13.3‑inch 4K QLED HDR screens, Type A and C fast charging ports, and a bottle holder for added convenience. :- 205 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout, each ergonomically optimised, offering 31/32‑inch pitch, 5‑inch recline, 11.6‑inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen, and Type A and C charging ports. :- Additional enhancements across cabins encompass new carpets and curtains, new wall laminates, galley overhauls, 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 inflight entertainment (IFE) system. Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said, “This is a 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 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 forms a key part of Air India’s broader fleet modernisation efforts, delivering elevated comfort, privacy, and entertainment options while reinforcing the airline’s position as a premium global carrier.

New Delhi,17th April 2026: Air India has announced new interline partnership with WestJet, Canadian carrier to boost connectivity between India and North America beyond Toronto and Vancouver.The partnership enables single-ticket itineraries combining Air India and WestJet flights, offering smoother journeys, coordinated baggage handling, and simplified journeys for travellers. Through this partnership, Air India guests travelling to Toronto or Vancouver can take onward connections on WestJet to 17 Canadian cities and 14 U.S. cities, namely: Canadian cities: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, Kelowna, St. John’s, Prince George, Victoria, Fort St. John, Terrace, Cranbrook, Comox, Nanaimo. U.S. cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa, Nashville, Las Vegas, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Springs, Santa Ana, Fort Myers. Halifax, Calgary and St. John’s are also accessible via Air India’s select European gateways at Amsterdam (Schiphol), Paris (Charles de Gaulle), London (Heathrow), and London (Gatwick). Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Canada continues to be a key market for Air India, driven by strong people‑to‑people ties and increasing trade between our nations. By partnering with WestJet, we are making travel across North America more accessible and effortless for our guests, with coordinated baggage handling, single‑ticket convenience, and a far wider choice of destinations.” John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, the WestJet Group, said: “By bringing this interline agreement to life, we’re significantly expanding access between India and Canada, making it easier for our shared guests to seamlessly visit high-demand destinations across North America. This partnership aligns Air India’s long-haul strength with WestJet’s North American reach, creating meaningful new travel options and improving the end-to-end journey for travellers.” Air India currently operates 17x weekly non-stop flights to Canada, including 10x weekly services to Toronto and 7x weekly services to Vancouver.To its European gateways that provide connections on WestJet flights to Canada, Air India operates a total of 75x weekly services, including 49x weekly to London (Heathrow), 5x weekly to London (Gatwick), 14x weekly to Paris (Charles de Gaulle) and 7x weekly to Amsterdam (Schiphol).

New Delhi, 16th April, 2026: At the closing ceremony of Routes Asia 2026 in Xi’an, China, the hosting rights for the 23rd edition of Routes Asia is formally handed over to India, marking a significant milestone for the country’s rapidly expanding aviation sector. Routes Asia is the only route development event dedicated to Asia Pacific, which provides platform for the region’s airlines, airports, tourism authorities and aviation stakeholders to meet, share best practice and come together to develop network strategies and ensure future route development across Asia Pacific. Reflecting this strong growth trajectory and rising global prominence of the Indian aviation sector,China West Airport Group have officially handed over the hosting responsibilities of the Routes Asia 2027 to India by entrusting the hosting baton to Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India in a dedicated networking session hosted by India on the sidelines of Routes Asia 2026, being held from 12th–16th April.Routes Asia 2026 has brought together over 1,500 delegates, including representatives from 165 airports, 125 airlines, and 35 tourism and government bodies from across the Asia-Pacific region, facilitating strategic airport-to-airline meetings to strengthen regional and international air connectivity. On the occasion, Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation in video message welcomed global airline leaders, airport authorities, and tourism professionals to participate in Routes Asia 2027 and establish new travel corridors. The highlight of the event was that India is preparing to host 24th edition of Routes Asia 2027. The country is embarking on a transformative journey to unlock the full potential of its skies. It was also noted that the platform will foster new partnerships, strengthen air connectivity, and inspire the next generation of aviation professionals, while driving economic growth and showcasing the diversity of Incredible India. Emphasizing the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ it reaffirmed India’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, building a future where innovation, connectivity, and opportunity define every flight and reflect the nation’s global aspirations. India will be hosting Routes Asia 2027 in New Delhi from 16th–18th March, 2027, at Bharat Mandapam. The event is expected to attract over 2,000 delegates, including decision-makers from leading airlines, airports, and tourism authorities across Asia and beyond. The announcement builds on the official declaration made on 2nd September, 2025, in New Delhi, confirming that on behalf of the country, the Airports Authority of India will host the prestigious aviation forum for the first time in the country’s history. India’s aviation sector is witnessing significant expansion across both domestic and international travel segments, strengthening its position as an important aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently served by more than 80 domestic and international carriers, the country continues to strengthen its global connectivity. Hosting Routes Asia 2027 marks a historic first for India and reflects the country’s emergence as a global aviation leader. With 165 operational airports and continued expansion into tier II and tier III cities, India is creating a robust ecosystem for airlines and stakeholders to explore new markets and enhance connectivity to emerging destinations. The event is expected to play a pivotal role in revitalizing air route networks across the Asia-Pacific region, while enabling the development of new travel corridors linking Asia with Europe, North America, and beyond. India’s assumption of the Routes Asia hosting baton from China marks a defining moment in its aviation journey and sets the stage for a landmark edition of Routes Asia in 2027 carrying its inimitable legacy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – which means ‘the world is one family’.