Air India unveils first retrofitted Boeing 787-8 with upgraded cabin

Air India on Monday unveiled its first retrofitted twin-aisle Boeing 787-8 aircraft, marking the completion of a full cabin overhaul of the first aircraft in a planned fleet upgrade programme.

As per a statement from Air India, the aircraft underwent a comprehensive nose-to-tail retrofit at Boeing’s modification facility in Victorville, California, before being repainted in the airline’s new livery at a certified facility in San Bernardino in California, US.

What are the updates?

As part of the upgrade, the aircraft has been reconfigured from a two-class layout to a three-class configuration. It now features Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins, along with a new inflight entertainment system and redesigned interiors.

According to the airline, the retrofit process for the first aircraft took over 12,800 manhours across 45 days. The work included removal of existing interiors, installation of new seating, replacement of carpets and wall panels, and upgrades to galleys and lavatories. The aircraft also underwent exterior repainting, which involved more than 5,700 hours of work, said Air India.

What is on offer?

The updated configuration includes 20 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 25 seats in Premium Economy, and 205 seats in Economy Class. All cabins have been equipped with updated seating and onboard entertainment systems.

Air India said additional changes include installation of a new cabin service system, refurbishment of overhead bins, and updates to crew interface panels.

Wide initiative

The airline plans to retrofit 25 more Boeing 787 aircraft as part of a wider fleet modernisation effort. Two aircraft are currently undergoing the process. The programme is part of an estimated $400 million investment aimed at upgrading older widebody aircraft.

The retrofit initiative has been carried out in collaboration with Boeing. Upon completion, the airline expects the upgraded aircraft to operate on several international routes, including services to Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Air India also plans to extend similar upgrades to a portion of its Boeing 777 fleet in the next phase.