Air India Unveils New Dreamliner Livery, Signaling Global Comeback and Premium Expansion
The rollout of Air India’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring the airline’s refreshed tail livery marks a significant moment in its ongoing fleet transformation. Offering a glimpse into the future of Air India’s widebody fleet, the aircraft is currently being assembled at Boeing’s production facility in Charleston, South Carolina.
To ensure enhanced operational reliability and fuel efficiency, Air India has chosen General Electric’s GEnX-1B engines for powering its incoming Boeing 787-9 fleet.
Industry reports reveal that three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are currently under production for Air India. Identified by their unique line numbers, these aircraft underscore the airline’s swift progress in modernizing its long-haul operations.
With these new additions, Air India aims to elevate passenger experience, boost international reach, and reinforce its standing as a major global airline.
Air India, which previously operated these aircraft under the Vistara brand, now has seven Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners flying international routes including Frankfurt and London.
This will be the first 787-9 to feature the airline’s new cabin product, which was first introduced on its Airbus A350 aircraft—forming a vital part of Air India’s broad fleet renewal strategy.
The advanced 787-9 Dreamliner is expected to support Air India’s expansion into U.S. markets such as Seattle and Los Angeles. These routes are strategically aligned with its codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines, enabling passengers to enjoy smoother connections and increased travel flexibility.
This move also ensures stronger connectivity and consistent onboard experience on major long-haul routes. Alongside six newly inducted Airbus A350s, Air India is operating 11 leased Boeing 777s on important sectors like New York, San Francisco, and London to meet its intercontinental growth ambitions.
According to a leading aviation analyst, Indian airlines currently handle only 21% of total international passengers—a figure projected to reach 50%.
He also noted that Air India’s efforts to expand its premium service offerings are being strengthened by a planned retrofit of 40 legacy widebody Boeing 777s and 787s, expected to commence in the latter half of 2025. This follows the successful cabin upgrade of 27 narrow-body aircraft.
Long-haul routes, though serving just 11.7% (26 million) of India’s 222 million total passengers, generated nearly 50% ($16 billion) of Air India’s FY24 revenue of $34 billion—highlighting their profitability driven by higher fares and greater premium cabin uptake.
Air India continues to lead India’s evolving aviation sector. The airline is promoting affordable luxury by offering Premium Economy upgrades starting at just ₹599 for a limited time, amid expectations that premium seat sales will double within three years.
To meet surging demand, Air India will retrofit 27 Airbus A320 aircraft, expanding Premium Economy capacity by 30%—translating to over 65,000 additional seats weekly. With features like priority check-in, extra legroom, elevated dining, and a dedicated cabin, Air India remains the only Indian airline offering a three-class layout on domestic flights.
As global airlines continue to invest in premium travel, Air India’s bold approach demonstrates a strong commitment to redefining passenger comfort, elevating service benchmarks, and shaping the future of premium flying in India.
