Air India Set for Massive Fleet Expansion

Air India Group is set to significantly expand its fleet over the coming months, with 50 to 60 new aircraft expected to be delivered within the next 18 months. Air India Chief Commercial Officer and Air India Express Chairman Nipun Aggarwal said the airline's transformation plan is progressing steadily despite global challenges such as supply chain disruptions, fuel price volatility, geopolitical tensions, and airspace restrictions. The airline currently operates a fleet of more than 290 aircraft.

Aggarwal stated that Air India has placed orders for nearly 600 aircraft, but less than 10% have been delivered so far. The remaining aircraft are expected to arrive gradually over the next several years, with annual deliveries of 10–15 wide-body and 45–50 narrow body aircraft. He also expressed confidence that Air India Express will complete the retrofitting of its fleet into a single cabin configuration by next March.

The airline is also restoring its international network after temporary service reductions caused by geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Around 90% of Middle East services have already resumed, while bookings for Europe and the United States are increasing. Aggarwal said the airline expects operations to return to pre-conflict levels within the next two months.