Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 29 (ANI): Air India on Thursday announced the conversion of 15 of its current orders for Airbus A321neo aircraft to the advanced Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range) variant.

The conversion of the orders was announced today on the sidelines of Wings India 2026, one of Asia's premier civil aviation events, in Hyderabad.

Air India signed a multi-year agreement with Boeing Global Services for the Component Services Program (CSP), covering its entire Boeing 787 fleet, including existing aircraft and those on order.

In parallel, Air India also confirmed an order for 30 additional Boeing single-aisle aircraft, comprising 20 737-8 and 10 737-10 jets, taking its total Boeing aircraft orders to 250. Air India had placed firm orders for 470 aircraft in 2023, of which 220 were with Boeing.

Sakthi Group and Omnipol are signing a Memorandum of Understanding to bring the globally proven L410 NG 19-seater aircraft to India, including the assessment of modalities for setting up a final assembly line in the country.

The developments come a few days after Air India ushered in a significant new chapter in its transformation journey with the arrival of its first line-fit Boeing 787-9, custom-built for the airline.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, while speaking to ANI, highlighted that the airline is entering a pivotal phase with the introduction of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, specifically designed and built for the carrier.

'So this year is a real year of transformation for Air India. We have the first of these line-fit 787 Dreamliners coming. We have three more coming this year, two more A350 1000s towards the end of the year,' he said.

Wilson mentioned that it was wonderful to show it to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. According to Wilson, 'This year, we're going to see at least 20 of these world-class widebody aircraft operating the Air India fleet to Europe, to East Asia, to Australia, and more to come... Certainly, in 2027 and 2028, we see a huge transformation in the Air India long-haul wide-body fleet. The domestic fleet has already been nearly entirely upgraded. So it means a better product for people, a higher business class cabin to accommodate more corporate traffic'

Wilson projected a huge transformation in the Air India long-haul wide-body fleet through 2027 and 2028. The airline also begins taking delivery of retrofitted legacy aircraft, specifically the 787-8s, as part of its fleet modernisation strategy. (ANI)