Air India is set to return five leased Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to Delta Air Lines by March next year, sources told PTI. This move will lead to adjustments in North American flight schedules as the airline manages its wide-body fleet.
Plan for Fleet Transition
Out of the five planes, two have already been taken out of service for maintenance. To minimize disruptions, Air India has started transitioning select US routes to its Boeing 777-300ERs. A spokesperson said the airline is adjusting schedules while ensuring passenger convenience.
“The lease for these B777-200LRs is concluding. Accordingly, we have moved select US routes from B777-200LRs to B777-300ERs and revised our North American flight schedules to minimize disruptions,” the spokesperson added.
Background on the Aircraft
The five Boeing 777-200LRs were leased from Delta Air Lines. Air India had previously considered extending the lease or acquiring the planes, but Delta chose to sell them to another party. Some of these aircraft had faced technical issues during their tenure with Air India.
Air India’s Current Fleet
Owned by the Tata Group, Air India currently operates 187 aircraft, including:
- 127 narrow-body planes: A319s, A320 ceos and neos, A321 ceos and neos
- 60 wide-body planes: 19 B777-300ERs, 3 B777-200LRs, 26 B787-8s, 6 B787-9s, 6 A350s
The reduction in wide-body aircraft will limit Air India’s ability to expand long-haul and ultra long-haul routes in the near term. Following the return of two of the five planes, the Delhi-SFO route has been moved to a B777-300ER, previously operated by a Delta-leased B777-200LR.
Supply Chain Challenges
Global supply chain issues have slowed aircraft deliveries worldwide. Many airlines, including Air India, have relied on short-term leasing to meet rising demand. Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson noted in June that while supply chain constraints are gradually improving, full recovery may take until 2029–2030.
