Air India is holding off on expanding its fleet with more Boeing aircraft as the manufacturer grapples with its backlog, as shared by the airline’s CEO Campbell Wilson in an exclusive interview with Pilotcenter.net News. Delaying the decision, Wilson emphasized the importance of having a clear timeline in place before committing to additional purchases: “We don’t want to commit to anything until we have confidence of when it’s going to come,” he said. Similarly, Boeing is also cautious about offering new aircraft until they are certain about delivery timelines.

Due to the existing backlog, Air India anticipates a longer wait for its aircraft orders to be fulfilled than originally anticipated. However, Wilson remains optimistic about the airline’s trajectory and its turnaround plan for the upcoming years. Despite the challenges, he reiterated that they expect to receive the ordered aircraft but are prepared for delays, a sentiment he believes is shared by many airlines facing similar circumstances.

Acknowledging the struggles stemming from inadequate investment as a state-owned entity, the Tata Group-owned airline has rolled out a comprehensive restructuring plan, Vihaan.AI, aimed at transforming its operations. As a part of this strategic roadmap, Air India recently announced significant updates to its international route network in December 2024. These updates will see the deployment of the airline’s top-tier aircraft to key destinations in Southeast Asia and Europe, further enhancing its services to the US and UK with upgraded A350s and B777s.

The schedule adjustments will not only benefit passengers traveling between North America or Europe and Australia or Southeast Asia through Delhi and Mumbai but also optimize the overall flight experience. Back in June 2023, Air India made a bold move by placing an order for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing under the Vihaan.AI program. However, in light of recent events, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has restricted Boeing 737 MAX production to 38 jets per month. This decision followed an incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737-9 where a door plug separated shortly after takeoff in January 2024. Despite these challenges, Air India remains focused on its commitment to enhancing its services and stands resilient in the face of industry obstacles.