Air India has begun upgrading the avionics systems on its fleet of 26 legacy 787-8 aircraft, the airline said on August 10, as part of a broader push to retrofit its fleet of the aircraft type.
The upgrades, which form the core of a wider reliability enhancement programme, aim to bring the aircraft’s systems up to “current industry standards”. The initiative also includes modifications to other critical components based on Boeing’s latest service bulletins.
Air India said the enhancements are expected to reduce operational disruptions and improve overall performance across its long-haul fleet. Additionally, seven of the 26 787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance checks in Victorville, California.
This comes after India’s aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional safety checks on its 787-8 and 787-9 fleet following the crash of Flight 171 on June 12.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) called the directive a “preventive measure” aimed at avoiding a recurrence of similar incidents. Air India has completed preliminary inspections of the fuel control switch locking mechanisms across its 787 fleet and found “no issues,” NDTV reported on July 16.
The retrofit of the 787-8s, set for completion by mid-2027, will also introduce brand-new interiors across three cabin classes, including upgrades to seats, inflight entertainment and galleys.
This programme also extends to 13 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with retrofitting work scheduled to begin in early 2027, wrapping up by October 2028. The airline said this timeline has been adjusted due to global supply chain delays.
The airline stated that in addition to its widebody aircraft, it is also nearing completion of its narrowbody retrofit programme for 27 A320neo aircraft, which began in September 2024.
According to Air India, 16 aircraft have already been refurbished, with the 15th returning to service on August 9, 2025, and the 16th scheduled for August 11, 2025. The remaining 11 are on track for completion by next month.
These upgraded A320neo jets, featuring fully refreshed cabins, will be deployed on key domestic and short-haul international routes.
In March Air India introduced its first retrofitted narrowbody aircraft back into operations, stating then that these 27 A320neos would be refurbished by the third quarter of 2025.