DELHI, 18 February 2026: Air India will deploy aircraft with new, retrofitted, or upgraded cabin interiors on additional international routes as part of its northern summer timetable 2026, which begins late March and runs through to the end of October 2026.
The changes to Air India’s schedule and product deployment on select international routes are as follows.
Between February and March 2026
Effective 14 February, Air India’s Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda) operates with B787-9 aircraft, featuring a three-class cabin configuration, introducing Premium Economy on the route. This deployment adds 2408 seats between Delhi and Tokyo (Haneda) every month.
Starting 1 March, Delhi-Toronto frequency increases from seven weekly to 10 weekly.
Starting 29 March, Delhi-Seoul (Incheon) frequency increases from five to six weekly, and the newly launched Delhi-Shanghai flights increase from four to five weekly, adding 2048 seats per month on each route.
From 1 July 2026
Mumbai-London (Heathrow) flights will operate with a combination of Air India’s new B787-9 and retrofitted legacy B787-8 aircraft, both featuring all-new cabin interiors. These flights will replace the currently deployed B777-300ER on the route, which already features upgraded cabin interiors.
Delhi-Melbourne daily flights will operate on Air India’s B777-300ER, featuring upgraded cabin interiors and the introduction of First Class on the route. The aircraft features eight First Class suites, 40 fully flat beds in Business Class, and 280 seats in Economy Class, adding nearly 4,000 seats per month between Delhi and Melbourne.
From 1 August 2026
Bengaluru-London (Heathrow) flights will operate with the airline’s retrofitted B787-8 aircraft, featuring new cabin interiors, thus introducing Premium Economy on the route. With this, all Air India flights to and from London (Heathrow) will be serviced by aircraft featuring new cabin interiors.
Seven weekly flights on the Delhi-Toronto route will operate with Air India’s new B787-9 aircraft, featuring an all-new three-class cabin and the introduction of Premium Economy. The remaining three weekly flights will continue to operate with Air India’s legacy B777-300ER. More than 50% of Air India’s North America flights will be operated with new or upgraded cabin interiors.
Air India’s flights to Birmingham from Amritsar and Delhi, and to London (Gatwick) from Ahmedabad and Amritsar, will be operated with the legacy B777-300ER, replacing the currently deployed B787-8 and introducing First Class on these routes.
New and retrofitted B787s
Air India began retrofitting its legacy B787-8 aircraft last year, with 26 aircraft to be refitted with brand-new cabin interiors custom-styled for Air India and repainted in the airline’s new livery. The first two of these retrofitted aircraft are expected to return to service in the coming weeks, with several more to be retrofitted progressively throughout 2026.
Additionally, Air India expects deliveries of three new, line-fit (or made-for-Air India) B787-9 and two line-fit A350-1000 aircraft in 2026.
(Source: Air India)
