Air India completes first A320neo retrofit
Air India welcomed (17-Mar-2025) its first retrofitted narrowbody. The A320neo (VT-EXN) is the first of 27 narrowbodies inherited at the time of takeover and elected for a complete retrofit to the new Air India standard. The retrofit features new seats, carpets, curtain, cabin ambience, a three class cabin configuration, along with a fresh coat of paint and new livery in the new Air India branding. Retrofit for all of the 27 A320neos is scheduled to be completed by 3Q2025. The airline will be installing more than 3500 new economy class seats, 600 premium economy and 200 business class seats. All the refitted A320neo aircraft will feature eight business, 24 premium economy and 132 economy class seats. The retrofit schedule will also see more legacy aircraft, including 40 widebody Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft undergo makeover with the first 787 ferried out for retrofit in Apr-2025. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Air India's USD400 million retrofit programme was progressing as planned, with the narrowbody fleet's upgrades expected to complete by mid-20251. The retrofit included a partnership with SIA Engineering Company to update 13 Boeing 777s used on US and Canada routes, with completion targeted by the end of 20252. The first retrofitted A320neo was scheduled for deployment on the Delhi-Bangkok route from 16-Jan-20253.