Air India Express Welcomes First Custom Boeing 737-8, Fleet Reaches 51 Aircraft

December 31, 2025 at 03:08 AM•2 min read

Air India Express inducted its first line-fit Boeing 737-8, bringing its fleet of the type to 51 and marking a major step in its fleet modernisation programme.

Key Points

151st Boeing 737-8 inducted, marking the first fully customized "line-fit" aircraft for the airline since the Tata takeover.
2Air India Express is now India's largest Boeing operator, with a total fleet exceeding 100 aircraft.
3New cabin features include fast-charging power outlets, onboard ovens for hot 'Gourmair' meals, and Boeing's Sky Interior.
4The airline launched a retrofit program for 50 existing 737-8s to standardize the passenger experience by applying the new cabin design.

Air India Express, a Tata Enterprise, recently achieved a major milestone. The airline inducted its first line-fit Boeing 737-8 aircraft. This delivery marks the 51st Boeing 737-8 in its fleet. The aircraft flew directly from Boeing's facility in Seattle. It arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. This plane is the first all-new aircraft delivered to the Air India Group since the Tata takeover.

Custom Cabin and Enhanced Comfort

The new Boeing 737-8 was configured to Air India Express specifications. It features a cabin designed for enhanced comfort and convenience. Key features include ergonomically designed seats with comfortable cushioning. Each seat is equipped with a fast-charging power outlet. The aircraft also incorporates onboard ovens for hot 'Gourmair' meals. Passengers will benefit from larger overhead bins and a quieter cabin environment. The interior utilizes Boeing's Sky Interior with soothing mood lighting. The aircraft is scheduled to enter commercial service in January 2026.

This specific aircraft is registered VT-RNT. It features a special livery honoring Ratan Naval Tata.

Fleet Modernisation and Market Impact

This induction is a significant step in the airline's fleet modernisation programme. Air India Express now operates a total fleet of over 100 aircraft. This growth strengthens its position as the country's largest Boeing operator. Two-thirds of the fleet are modern B737-8s and Airbus A320/321Neo aircraft. These modern aircraft offer superior comfort and better fuel efficiency.

Rapid fleet expansion has supported significant network growth. Air India Express now serves 60 destinations. Twelve new destinations were added in 2025 alone. This expansion focuses on improving connectivity to Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Standardizing the Passenger Experience

The airline is standardizing its fleet to ensure consistency. It launched a program to retrofit 50 existing Boeing 737-8s. These planes will be upgraded to a standardised 189-seat configuration. This effort will apply the new cabin layout to previously acquired 'white-tail' aircraft. Two aircraft have already completed this retrofit.

Managing Director Aloke Singh highlighted the importance of this milestone. He noted the airline is emerging as a strong connector of 'New India'. This news is a key development in commercial aviation news.

Air India Express continues its transformation under the Tata Group. This includes the 'Xplore More, Xpress More' brand campaign. It also includes the 'Tales of India' initiative for aircraft tail art.