Air India Group to add up to 60 new aircraft over 18 months amid transformation programme: Nipun Aggarwal

Air India Group expects to add up to 60 new aircraft over the next 18 months as part of its ongoing transformation programme, according to senior executive Nipun Aggarwal. Speaking after a panel discussion in Abu Dhabi on July 15, Aggarwal said the plan remains on track despite “black swan” disruptions affecting the industry, including supply-chain issues, airspace constraints, oil price volatility and geopolitical problems. The Tata Group acquired loss-making Air India in January 2022, and Aggarwal described the rollout as complex but progressing. He said most planned initiatives are happening, including fleet modernisation and investments in MRO, though aircraft delivery delays and retrofit schedules have slipped. Air India Group’s order book is nearly 600 aircraft, with less than 10% delivered so far, stretching to the middle of the next decade. Deliveries are expected to rise, with Aggarwal citing roughly 10–15 wide-bodies and 45–50 narrow-bodies annually, while the group targets almost 50–60 aircraft in 18 months. He also said Dreamliners retrofits are expected by mid next year and 777s in two to three years.