Air India to Fly New Boeing 787-9s With Reduced Seating at Launch
Air India will introduce its newly delivered Boeing 787-9 into revenue service with temporary seating and cabin feature restrictions, as the airline continues to address certification issues related to its latest interior configuration. According to a report by Press Trust of India, the first aircraft will enter service on February 1, 2026, with 18 economy class seats blocked and limited functionality in the business class cabin.
The restrictions affect Air India’s first line-fit Boeing 787-9 equipped with a new cabin product. While the aircraft has been delivered, regulatory approval is still pending for certain elements of the seating installation. As a result, all 30 business class suites will operate with their sliding doors locked in the open position. Air India confirmed that the door mechanism has not yet received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, preventing the airline from offering the full enclosed suite experience at launch.
In economy class, 18 seats will remain unavailable for sale due to outstanding regulatory interpretation issues. Air India said the seats themselves are not the source of the problem. The RECARO 3710 seat model installed on the aircraft is already certified and widely used by airlines worldwide. However, specific regulatory questions related to the installation of those 18 seats are still under review, and the airline is working with both the manufacturer and regulators to resolve them. The seats will only be released for sale once full certification is secured.
Despite the temporary limitations, the aircraft will operate with the majority of its capacity available. Air India’s new Boeing 787-9s are configured for up to 296 passengers in a three-class layout, comprising 30 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 238 economy class seats. At entry into service, 220 economy seats will be offered, reflecting the temporary block on the remaining 18.
The first aircraft in this configuration, registered VT-AWA, was delivered in late 2025 and is scheduled to debut on the Delhi–Frankfurt route. This marks an important milestone in Air India’s long-haul fleet renewal programme, even as the airline works through certification hurdles associated with introducing a new cabin standard.
The issue does not affect Air India’s existing Boeing 787-9 fleet inherited from Vistara. The carrier operates six of those aircraft, which feature a different cabin configuration for up to 299 passengers and are already fully certified. In addition, Air India continues to operate 26 Boeing 787-8s, which are undergoing refurbishment but are not impacted by the current certification challenges.
Air India expects to receive three additional line-fit Boeing 787-9s during 2026. The airline aims to have all certification matters resolved before broader deployment of the new cabin, allowing it to fully monetize the upgraded seating and deliver the intended premium experience across its long-haul network.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com