Air India’s Transformation Takes Off: CEO Campbell Wilson Predicts Major Travel and Fleet Overhaul by 2026 in India, US & Europe.

Published on November 25, 2025

Air India is on the cusp of a profound transformation, as CEO Campbell Wilson has projected that 2026 will mark a watershed period in the airline’s revival. Under Wilson’s leadership and the Tata Group’s ownership, the carrier is poised to deliver visible, customer-centric upgrades, especially through its fleet modernization plans and service refinements. The airline’s strategy involves inducting new wide-body aircraft and refurbishing existing ones so that passengers flying across India, Europe, the United States, Australasia, and Southeast Asia begin to notice a new Air India experience. At the same time, lounges—from Delhi to New York and San Francisco—are being upgraded, and the in-flight offerings, such as food and beverage menus, are being redesigned to raise the bar for hospitality in the skies. According to Wilson, the goal is not merely operational change but a perceptible shift in quality, convenience, and brand feel. All of these efforts are aligned with the broader vision of re-establishing Air India as a travel and tourism leader on both domestic and international routes.

A Year of Transformation: Why 2026 Matters

Campbell Wilson has emphasized that 2026 will be the year when the changes planned for Air India become plainly visible to customers. These changes are not superficial—they represent a leap forward in both fleet modernization and service enhancement. According to his vision, this is the point when years of behind-the-scenes investment in systems, training, and infrastructure will begin to translate into a markedly different travel experience for passengers.

Fleet Modernization: Big Jets and Refits

One of the central pillars of the transformation is the wide-body upgradation programme. In 2026, Air India will take delivery of six new wide-body aircraft, a mix of Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-1000 jets.

Parallelly, several of the airline’s legacy Boeing 787-8 aircraft—already in the process of retrofit—are expected to re-enter service in 2026 with fully overhauled interiors, including upgraded in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi.

Wilson has stated that by the end of 2026, about two-thirds of the B787 fleet will feature these refreshed interiors, and the complete retrofit is slated to finish by mid-2027.

Narrow-Body Fleet Renewal

Alongside the wide-body upgrades, the narrow-body fleet is not being left behind. Around 81 percent of narrow-body aircraft have already been modernized.

Seventeen aircraft that had earlier been marked for retirement are being retained owing to delivery delays from Airbus and Boeing. These, too, will undergo retrofitting in 2026.

New Inductions and Orders

Air India has an ambitious aircraft order totaling more than 570 jets. While only a portion of these will arrive by 2026, further large-scale deliveries are expected during 2027 and 2028.

In particular, Wilson has pointed out that 26 to 30 new aircraft are expected in 2026 alone, comprising the six wide-bodies and at least twenty narrow-body jets.

Enhanced In-Flight Experience

Upgrades are not confined to the hardware of the aircraft. Air India is also revamping its service offerings. A new food and beverage menu is being rolled out, with the international leg already benefitting and the domestic rollout expected by January.

These changes are intended not just to refresh the onboard dining experience, but to bring personalization and premium service to business-class passengers.

Lounges: More Comfort Before Takeoff

The overhaul extends to ground facilities as well. Lounges in major hubs are being upgraded or newly built. In December, a new Maharaja Lounge will open at Delhi’s Terminal 3, and by 2026 a domestic lounge will also debut at the same terminal.

Internationally, a lounge in San Francisco is in development, and the New York JFK lounge will be upgraded to complement the enhanced cabin experience.

Measuring Impact: Customer Recognition

Wilson has noted that some early signs of success are already visible. The Net Promoter Score (NPS), a measure of customer satisfaction, recently reached an all-time high of 37 in September 2025, based on feedback from nearly 200,000 passengers.

This uptick suggests that despite structural and operational challenges, customers are noticing the improvements and responding positively.

Challenges: Supply Chain and Delays

Grand ambitions inevitably come with obstacles. The airline’s retrofit programme has encountered delays, particularly due to global supply chain disruptions affecting high-end seats, cabin components, and aircraft availability.

Wilson has acknowledged that these constraints will likely extend the transformation timeline, pushing full fleet modernization beyond the originally planned date.

Investment in Human Capital

To support the growing and modernized fleet, Air India is channeling investments into training and human resources. Wilson has highlighted the importance of upskilling cabin crew, engineers, and ground staff so that they can deliver the elevated guest experience that the refreshed aircraft promise.

Strategic Expansion and Connectivity

Beyond the fleet and service upgrades, Air India is also focused on expanding its global footprint. Wilson has indicated that as the modern aircraft rollout accelerates, the airline will be better placed to strengthen routes to and from India in key international markets—Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.

This aligns with broader ambitions to establish Air India as a major global player in both travel and tourism, contributing not only to the airline’s bottom line but also to India’s connectivity and soft power on world aviation.

Emergence of the New Air India

Campbell Wilson’s projection for 2026 sets the stage for what might be the most visible phase of Air India’s turnaround journey under the Tata Group. With a fleet that is being modernized, lounges that are being upgraded, and onboard service being reimagined, the airline is working toward a future in which its brand stands for comfort, reliability, and global reach.

From a travel and tourism perspective, these changes could make Air India more attractive for long-haul flyers, business travelers, and the Indian diaspora, while also strengthening India’s aviation linkages with the rest of the world.

The transformation that has been under preparation for years is now reaching a point where passengers may begin to feel the difference—in the air, on the ground, and through the entire travel journey.