Air India receives first custom-built Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner post-Tata takeover

The Boeing 787-9 received by Air India is the airline’s first “line-fit” Dreamliner, custom-built by Boeing to Air India’s cabin, seating, and design specifications. Handed over at Boeing’s Everett facility in Seattle, the aircraft represents the first such induction since Tata acquired Air India in January 2022 and the first in nearly nine years since the airline’s last government-era custom Dreamliner in 2017.

How will the new Dreamliner improve passenger experience?

The aircraft features a three-class cabin layout with Business, Premium Economy, and Economy classes, aiming to enhance passenger comfort and improve the airline’s long-haul international travel experience.

The newly delivered 787-9 is the first widebody jet from the Tata Group’s 2023 Boeing mega-order, part of a total of 220 aircraft. Air India Express has already received 51 Boeing 737-8s, including its first line-fit aircraft in December 2025. In addition, Air India has ordered 350 Airbus jets, six of which A350s have already joined international operations.

How large is Air India’s current fleet?

Following this delivery, the Air India Group operates more than 300 aircraft: 185 under Air India and the remainder under Air India Express. The airline also plans to bring around a dozen legacy Dreamliners with refreshed interiors back into service throughout 2026.

CEO Campbell Wilson announced that 26 new widebody and narrowbody aircraft are expected to join the fleet in 2026. By the end of the year, 81% of Air India’s international flights will operate with upgraded or new-generation aircraft.

Receiving the first custom-built Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner signals a major step in Air India’s long-term strategy to modernise its fleet, strengthen its global aviation presence, and rebuild the airline’s brand post-privatisation.