Air India eyes more widebody jets as new CEO predicts return to profitability

Air India is considering additional widebody aircraft orders from Boeing and Airbus as its new CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, sets in motion plans to expand international operations and return the airline to profitability.

Speaking at the Aviation India and South Asia Summit in New Delhi on November 3, 2026, Gebremariam said the airline wants to grow its long-haul fleet and expects to become profitable “very soon.”

“We want more wide-body aircraft,” Gebremariam said, confirming that Air India has been discussing additional orders with both manufacturers.

He declined to say how many aircraft the airline might purchase.

The potential orders would add to Air India’s existing commitments for 600 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, including 80 widebodies. Those orders comprise 50 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 10 Boeing 777Xs.

About 10 of the 80 widebody aircraft have been delivered. Air India currently operates a fleet of 61 widebody aircraft.

The CEO said the airline is seeking to regain international market share from foreign competitors while attracting more passengers connecting between international destinations through its Indian hubs.

“Air India has been punching below its weight and that will change,” Gebremariam said.

The airline is also reviewing its international network as Pakistan’s airspace restrictions continue to complicate long-haul operations, particularly flights departing Delhi for Europe and North America.

Gebremariam said Air India is considering moving more of those services to Mumbai, where flights are less affected by the restrictions.

The airline is also evaluating Bengaluru as a third major hub alongside Delhi and Mumbai.

Air India’s expansion plans come as the carrier works to reduce operating costs and improve its financial performance.

Air India and subsidiary Air India Express reported a combined net loss of approximately 222.4 billion rupees ($2.5 billion) for the financial year ending March 2026, more than double the previous year’s loss.

Gebremariam identified high operating costs as a major concern and said the airline is working to bring its costs closer to industry averages.

He also said he was more impatient to achieve profitability than Air India’s shareholders, Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, which are taking a longer-term approach to the airline’s development.

The airline has been undergoing a multibillion-dollar transformation since returning to Tata Group ownership in January 2022. The program includes new aircraft, upgraded cabins, an expanded international network and improvements to customer service.

Tata Group owns approximately 75% of Air India, with Singapore Airlines holding the remaining 25%.

Gebremariam took over as CEO in October 2026, succeeding Campbell Wilson, who led the airline through the initial stages of its transformation following privatization.

The new CEO previously spent more than a decade leading Ethiopian Airlines, overseeing the carrier’s expansion into Africa’s largest airline and developing Addis Ababa into a major international connecting hub.

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