Air India Delays 777 Retrofit

Air India, in addition to announcing its Northern Summer 2025 expansion plans, has delayed its retrofit program for the Boeing 777 fleet.

Under new ownership, the flag carrier is looking to turn its fortunes around. However, it has experienced its fair share of complications, which have halted fleet renewal and revamp efforts.

Initially, the flag carrier believed it would commence the retrofit process of its Boeing 777 fleet in 2025 to ensure modernisation could be felt throughout its operation.

The arrival of aircraft like the Airbus A350 has allowed Air India to revamp the customer experience it provides aboard its planes.

This revamp forms an integral pillar of the airline’s ongoing rebuild efforts, which aim to turn the company’s fortunes and establish Air India as one of the industry’s most respected and integral pieces.

Significant investment has been made to make this rebuild happen, and where possible, Air India has revamped its existing fleet to better align it with incoming jets that will feature new cabin products.

However, Air India has now confirmed that its retrofit program for the 777 fleet will be delayed. The commencement date is expected to be 2026, representing a 12-month delay.

Air India says that the delays are driven by complications in the supply chain and, notably, seat suppliers, who are encountering issues that make acquiring the seats necessary to conduct the work near impossible.

Air India Not Alone In Seat Issues

Supply chain constraints concerning seats are a broader problem across the industry and have also been known to directly affect airlines trying to take delivery of new planes from manufacturers.

These manufacturers, such as Airbus and Boeing, have not been able to acquire the cabin product required for installation on time, which has pushed back deliveries and frustrated airlines.

There have been many delays in acquiring seats, from widebody aircraft to single-aisle jets. As Air India states, however, many other elements are complicating matters further.