Air India Reintroduces Refitted A320neo After Six-Month Upgrade

Air India has successfully reintroduced its first retrofitted A320-200N to scheduled service after a six-month refit, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s ongoing fleet modernization program. The aircraft, VT-EXN (msn 8486), completed its first post-refit revenue flight on March 1, 2025, flying from Delhi International to Bhubaneshwar, as tracked by Flightradar24 ADS-B data. Since its return to service, the aircraft has been deployed on both domestic and short-haul international routes.

The 6.3-year-old A320neo is part of a broader USD400 million initiative to refurbish Air India’s fleet of legacy narrowbody and widebody aircraft. This modernization project involves the retrofit of twenty-seven A320neo aircraft, all of which were inherited from the airline’s pre-privatization era. The aircraft upgrades are part of Air India’s effort to revitalize its fleet while preparing for the influx of new aircraft expected from recent orders.

Scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2025, the narrowbody refit includes the installation of new seats, fresh carpets, cabin interiors, and repainted fuselages. The updated A320neo cabins will feature a three-class layout, consisting of eight business class, twenty-four premium economy, and one hundred thirty-two economy class seats.

While the program aims to retrofit more than 100 aircraft, Air India has faced challenges due to seat supply shortages. Manufacturers are struggling to meet the required volumes, leading to delays of between six and twelve months for first and business class seat deliveries. The airline has acknowledged these supply constraints, which have affected the pace of the fleet upgrades.

This retrofit initiative comes after the merger of Air India with Vistara and the integration of Air India Express with AIX Connect. The airline has chosen to upgrade its older units, inherited from the previous owner, while awaiting the delivery of nearly 500 aircraft from its large order placed in February 2023. To date, the airline has received forty-one Boeing 737-8 aircraft, all of which are operated by Air India Express, alongside additional A320-200Ns, A321-200NX, and A321-200NX(LR) aircraft from lessors.

Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, has indicated that the full upgrade of its legacy widebody fleet is expected to be completed by mid-2027. He also noted that the global aviation market will likely remain “supply constrained” for the next four to five years, further emphasizing the challenges the airline faces in meeting its fleet modernization goals.

Currently, Air India operates a fleet of 202 aircraft, which includes a mix of narrowbody and widebody models such as A320-200Ns, A350-900s, B777s, and B787s. Additionally, the airline has 374 aircraft on order, including more A320-200Ns, A350-900s, B777-9s, and B787-9s, which will further expand its fleet and service capabilities in the coming years.

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Air India Reintroduces Refitted A320neo After Six-Month Upgrade

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