Air India delivers first fully retrofitted Boeing 787-8 widebody.
Air India officially welcomed its first retrofitted Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as VT-ANT, marking a major milestone in its $400 million fleet modernization program. This aircraft arrived in New Delhi after a non-stop ferry flight from San Bernardino, California, showcasing a total nose-to-tail cabin transformation. The upgrade replaces the aging two-class system with a modern three-class layout, introducing a dedicated Premium Economy cabin to the B787-8 fleet for the first time.
Engineering a Modern Flying Experience
The refurbishment required over 12,800 man-hours at the Boeing Modification Center in Victorville. Specialists installed customized Elevate Ascent seats in Business Class, while RECARO provided the seating for the new Premium Economy and Economy sections. Beyond seating, the airline integrated Thales AVANT Up in-flight entertainment systems across all cabins. Externally, a 20-member team spent nearly 6,000 hours applying the carrier's vibrant new livery, which features the iconic 'Vista' gold frame and red-purple accents.
Historically, this retrofit is a critical component of the Vihaan.AI strategy, aimed at restoring the airline's reputation as a world-class carrier following decades of underinvestment under previous state ownership.
Scaling the Fleet Transformation
Management confirmed that this is only the beginning of a larger rollout. Another 25 Boeing 787-8 aircraft will undergo identical upgrades through 2027. Once the Dreamliner project concludes, the airline plans to start similar work on 13 legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. These improvements ensure that passengers traveling to London, Europe, and Australia experience a consistent, high-end product regardless of the specific aircraft type.
WIth Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: Air India
