Air India suspends two long-haul services due to ongoing retrofit delays

Air India is suspending two non-stop services to both the UK and Australia, attributing the decision to its ongoing $400 million retrofit program, which has led to a reduction in its operational fleet.

As previously reported, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said that the widebody retrofit programme had slipped, with the narrowbody work now expected to be complete by the end of 2025, which was previously expected to be mid-2025. The delay was attributed to the delay in the supply of seats.

The airline will suspend its service between Mumbai and Melbourne from March 30, until September 13, 2025. The airline’s service between Kochi and London’s Gatwick airport will also be suspended from March 30, 2025, with the airline not providing details of when this service will be resumed.

Air India will continue to operate 12 weekly flights to London Gatwick from Amritsar, Ahmedabad and Goa.

In a statement the Indian flag carried said: “Retrofit of legacy 777s, with new seats and entertainment systems, originally due to commence in 2025, will now commence in early 2026 due to production constraints at the selected seat supplier.

“In the meantime, Air India is taking the opportunity to refresh as many other elements of the 777 interiors as feasible during 2025, ahead of the full retrofit program.”

The airline also said that the modernisation of its narrowbody fleet is progressing “well” and will be complete by the middle of 2025. The first of Air India’s legacy widebodies, a 787, will commence retrofit of new seats and entertainment systems in April and re-enter service in October 2025.

Air India plans induct up to three 787s per month until all 27 legacy aircraft have been upgraded.

Despite these delays in aircraft retrofit, the airline also announced an increase in frequencies to a number of cities as part of its northern summer schedule. Destinations include London, Vienna, Seoul and Hong Kong.