Air India Plans Widebody Fleet Expansion and Cost Cuts Under New Leadership

Air India wants to order more widebody aircraft to boost its international operations and win back market share from rival carriers, according to CEO Tewolde Gebremariam. Speaking at the Aviation India Summit 2026 in New Delhi on November 3, 2026, in his first public appearance since taking charge last month, Mr. Gebremariam did not state how many extra planes the airline plans to buy. He noted that the company is talking to planemakers Airbus and Boeing. Air India already has 80 widebody jets on order, including 50 A350s, 20 787s, and 10 777Xs, as part of total orders for 570 to 600 aircraft placed in 2023 and 2024 following its privatisation and return to the Tata fold. About 10 of those widebodies have been delivered so far, adding to an operational widebody fleet of 61 aircraft.

Strategy And Challenges

The airline aims to grow its full-service carrier long-haul operations and increase international-to-international connecting traffic. Mr. Gebremariam stated that the carrier has been punching below its weight. To counter current challenges from airspace closures and geopolitical conflicts, the airline is rebalancing its network and hubs. He also noted that India can develop multiple large hub airports to cater to passengers flying beyond the country. Shareholders Tata and Singapore Airlines are taking a long-term view to build a large world-class airline, while focusing on the large global Indian diaspora as a key market segment.

Costs And Profitability

Alongside fleet growth, the loss-making airline is pushing to cut costs and reach profitability very soon through revenue growth and efficiency. Mr. Gebremariam stressed efficiency and said he is impatient to see profitability as soon as possible.

Context

India is currently the world's third-largest aviation market after the US and China, as well as one of the fastest-growing major aviation markets globally. Major Indian airports aim to transform into international hubs that compete directly with established overseas hubs in the Middle East and Asia.