Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Air India Expands Fleet, Eyes London Flight
Air India is getting a lot of new planes.
They have ordered 600 new aircraft, and 100 have already arrived.
One of the new planes is called the Boeing 787-9, which will start flying from Mumbai to Frankfurt soon.
The airline wants to add more flights from Calcutta, including a possible direct flight to London, which people have been asking for.
Right now, Air India flies to many places within India from Calcutta but no international destinations.
The airport and travel agents think there is a lot of demand for flights to Europe and the US, so they are asking Air India to start these flights again.
Air India has ordered 600 new aircraft, with 100 already delivered and the rest scheduled to arrive by 2032.
The Boeing 787-9, customised for Air India, will start flying from Mumbai to Frankfurt from February 1.
Air India plans to consolidate its bases in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, then expand to other cities based on demand.
The airline is considering adding more flights from Calcutta, including a potential direct flight to London.
Currently, Air India operates 16 daily domestic flights from Calcutta but no international flights.
- Who
- Air India, Campbell Wilson (CEO), Travel Agents Federation of India (Tafi)
- What
- Air India is expanding its fleet and considering new international routes, including a potential direct flight from Calcutta to London.
- When
- New aircraft deliveries are scheduled until 2032, with the Boeing 787-9 starting operations from February 1.
- Where
- Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Frankfurt, London
- Why
- To meet increasing demand and consolidate bases, potentially resuming popular international routes.
- Aircraft Orders
- 600
- Aircraft Delivered
- 100
- Delivery Completion Year
- 2032
- New Aircraft Model
- Boeing 787-9
- Initial Route for 787-9
- Mumbai to Frankfurt
- Current Domestic Flights from Calcutta
- 16
- International Departures to UK/Europe/US
- 25%