26 Dreamliners to undergo major cabin upgrades in California; customers face uncertainty over travel plans; the retrofitting of the airline’s 26 Boeing 787-8s was scheduled early last year under Vihaan
Air India stated that aircraft upgrades are not the only reason for the suspension, citing a combination of operational factors. REPRESENTATION PIC/ISTOCK
With Air India suspending its services between Delhi and Washington DC, passengers who had already booked tickets for travel after September 1, 2025, are agitated. The retrofitting of the airline’s 26 Boeing 787-8s was scheduled early last year under Vihaan. AI and has no connection to the recent air crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. In mid-July, the airline announced that 26 of its Boeing 787-8s (including VT-ANT) would be sent for retrofitting in the coming months, with the first aircraft already flown to the Victorville, California, facility that same month.
Retrofitting is the process of upgrading or modifying an existing aircraft with new technologies, systems, or features to improve its performance, efficiency, or functionality Air India has stated that aircraft upgrades are not the only reason for the suspension, citing a combination of operational factors. “The continued closure of airspace over Pakistan impacts the airline’s long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity,” the airline said in a statement. Of the 26 Boeing 787-8s, seven will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville.
Passenger Speak
“I had to visit my ailing mother. What alternatives will the airline provide? My mother is in a very critical condition. If they give me a connecting flight and it gets delayed, and I don’t get to meet my mother one last time, how will they refund or compensate me for that?” said a flyer from Mumbai, requesting anonymity. Another passenger from Mumbai, also requesting anonymity, said, “If they had planned this, why did they even open bookings for these flights? It does not make sense.”
Gajendra Singh, a Hyderabad-based travel agent who handles clients across India, told mid-day, “Though we don’t have any clients scheduled to travel post-September 1 from Delhi to Washington DC, we are always prepared for such situations. There are always more options to fall back on, but it does trouble customers because with last-minute changes, they might not find flights at the time they want. And if they do, they would likely be at hiked prices.”
Air India’s statement
Air India says the retrofitting is on schedule and that the aircraft will return to the fleet by mid-2027. “The retrofitting program aims to introduce brand-new interiors featuring a three-class configuration with Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class seats. This includes the installation of brand-new seats in each cabin, advanced inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, new carpeting, curtains, upholstery, lavatories, galleys, and more – all aligned with the new Air India product and customer experience standards,” the airline said. Passengers who pre-booked flights on the route will be contacted by the airline and offered alternative arrangements on other flights or full refunds.
One-stop services to continue
The airline announced it will continue offering services from India to Washington DC via one-stop flights. “Air India customers will continue to have the option of one-stop flights to Washington, DC, via four US gateways — New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco — with the airline’s interline partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with baggage checked through to the final destination. Air India will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada,” the airline said.
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