Air India to Induct 100 Aircraft Amid Leadership Change

Outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson announced that Air India and Air India Express will induct more than 100 new aircraft during 2027 and 2028. Speaking at a staff townhall, Wilson detailed a $400 million retrofit program that includes refurbishing 16 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in 2027, nearly completing the overhaul of that specific fleet. The airline has already added three Boeing 787-9 aircraft in 2026 and expects two Airbus A350-1000s by the end of the year.

These expansions proceed despite operational headwinds, including fuel price volatility, currency depreciation, and airspace disruptions in West Asia and Pakistan. The closure of Pakistani airspace has extended flight times to North America and Europe by up to three hours, though the airline reported a widebody technical dispatch reliability of 97.4%.

Air India is currently undergoing a leadership transition, with former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief Tewolde Gebremariam set to succeed Wilson as CEO and Managing Director. Additionally, the airline will implement annual salary increments and a revised pay structure for pilots on October 1, 2026, following a previous one-quarter deferral.

Simultaneously, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing an August 4 flight from Phuket to Delhi. The investigation follows an incident where the aircraft lost 300 feet in altitude and the pilot tested positive for a psychoactive substance.