Air India 787-9. Photo: AIR INDIA Air India announced that it has completed the full upgrade of its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, as part of a broad program to renew its wide-body fleet.
This is the first of 26 aircraft to undergo a comprehensive refresh process, which includes a complete upgrade of the passenger cabin “from nose to tail.” In addition, it is the first wide-body aircraft in the company’s fleet to complete a full retrofit process.
The upgrade was performed at Boeing's maintenance center in Victorville, California, and also included repainting in accordance with the company's new branding, at an FAA-certified facility in San Bernardino.
As part of the upgrade, new seats were installed in all service classes, along with an updated interior design and a uniform level of comfort across the company's entire 787 fleet. Air India notes that the move is intended to create an improved and uniform flight experience for passengers.
The project is part of a broad program worth approximately $400 million to upgrade 67 wide-body and narrow-body aircraft, with the aim of adapting the company's fleet to modern standards of design, comfort and service.
It should be recalled that, in light of the sharp increase in fuel prices following the war in Iran and tensions in the Gulf, the company announced at the beginning of this month an increase in the fuel surcharge on all its flights.