This week, India's flag carrier Air India announced it would reintroduce all of its widebody aircraft into its fleet. The airline made the move citing an expanding network.

The Aircraft reintroduction

Air India has 43 widebody aircraft in its entire fleet. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and engine component issues, the airline had to cut numbers drastically. Currently, the airline has 33 widebodies in operation.

The remaining ten aircraft will be reinstated into service between now and the start of 2023. According to ch-aviation.com, at least six Boeing 787-8s and three 777-300ERs are currently parked.

Air India has a broad mix of aircraft. The carrier currently has 27 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, 13 Boeing 777-300ER, and three Boeing 777-200ERs. However, in July, it was revealed that the airline was to sell its three Boeing 777-200ERs.

PTI, as reported by the Economic Times, shared:

"Air India's widebody fleet currently stands at 43 aircraft, of which 33 are operational. This is a significant improvement from 28 aircraft that the airline was operating 'till recently."

The airline has a mix of short-haul aircraft that allows them to fly internally and with some external, international routes. Air India has 128 narrow-bodied planes, according to official numbers. Most of the narrow-bodied aircraft operated by Air India are the Airbus A320 family.

A growing network

Air India is making the move of reintroduction to allow the airline to expand. Recently, the airline announced its service from Delhi, India, to Vancouver, Canada.

The beginning of the route is set to happen on the 31st of August of this year. The airline said that the reintroduction of the B777-300ER will allow for an increase in traffic between India-Canada.

The airline said:

"The progressive restoration of these aircraft has already allowed Air India to increase schedule resilience and will allow further frequency and network increases over the coming months."

Recently, a Birmingham MP has written to Air India asking for more direct flights between Birmingham and Amritsar. Reintroducing its wide-bodied aircraft will allow the airline to do this.

The airline recently said that it has been working closely with Boeing following its acquisition by Tata Group to reintroduce its wide-bodied fleet after prolonged aircraft grounding due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sunday, the newly appointed CEO of Air India, Mr. Campbell Wilson, said the frequency increase on the Delhi-Vancouver route marks the first step in restoring Air India's fleet and international network.

High hopes

The airline has a bright future ahead of itself. The Tata Group acquired the airline in January of this year after winning the bid in October last year.

The Indian Government previously owned the airline, but in 2020, it decided to release an Expression Of Interest in 100% of its shares in Air India.

Mr. Wilson asked the airline's integrated operations control center (IOCC) to report directly to him and give recommendations on improving the airline's on-time performance.

Wilson said:

"I have decided that the IOCC located at Safdarjung will henceforth report directly to me. With my authority, they will be recommending some amendments to the ways we operate and will regularly update me on the status of implementation."

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Source: Economic Times