Air India operates ~210 aircraft as of May 2026. Below is the detailed breakdown by aircraft type.
| Aircraft | Count | Capacity | Primary use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A350-900 | 11 | 316 seats / 3-class | Long-haul USA, Europe, Australia |
| Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | 13 | 256 seats / 2-class | Medium-long haul intl |
| Boeing 787-8 | 27 | 256 seats / 2-class | Europe + Far East |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 13 | 342 seats / 3-class | USA + Europe long-haul |
| Boeing 777-200LR | 3 | 238 seats / 2-class | Ultra-long-haul USA |
| Airbus A321neo | ~33 | 194 seats / 2-class | Domestic metro + medium-haul intl |
| Airbus A320neo / A320ceo | ~85 | 162–180 seats | Domestic + Gulf |
Air India's fare structure offers 5 tiers that vary in baggage, meal, and flexibility benefits.
| Tier | Cabin | Check-in | Meal | Seat | Change fee | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Lite Budget domestic with full-service feel |
7 kg | 15 kg | Complimentary | Paid | ₹3,000 | No |
| Economy Comfort Most domestic + Gulf trips |
7 kg | 25 kg | Complimentary | Free (standard) | ₹1,500 | Yes |
| Economy Flex Business travel flexibility |
7 kg | 25 kg | Complimentary + priority | Free (premium rows) | Zero | Yes (full) |
| Premium Economy Long-haul comfort upgrade |
10 kg | 35 kg | Enhanced | Free | Zero | Yes |
| Business Long-haul flat-bed comfort |
15 kg | 40 kg (2×) | Multi-course | Free + lounge | Zero | Yes |
Air India's on-time performance at India's four metro airports was 76.4% in DGCA's April 2026 monthly report — up from 64% pre-Tata in 2022, but still trailing IndiGo (83.2%). The improvement curve is real: 2024 OTP averaged 71%, 2025 averaged 74%, 2026 trending toward 77–78%. Long-haul international punctuality is harder to compare on a single metric — most ultra-long-haul flights run within 30 minutes of schedule.
Air India's safety record over the last 20 years has been broadly clean. The notable exception was the AI171 (London-Mumbai) incident in May 2026 — a non-fatal but high-profile event involving a 787 returning to gate after take-off due to engine warning indications. Investigation by AAIB India confirmed no airworthiness defect. Pre-2007, Air India Express IX812 (Mangalore, 2010) remains the most serious historical incident. The airline holds IATA IOSA certification.
Tata's 2024 customer-care overhaul has narrowed but not closed the gap with peers. Primary channels: 1860-233-1407 (24×7), customerservice@airindia.com, the AI app, and @airindia Twitter. DGCA April 2026 complaint rate: 0.47 per 10,000 passengers (above industry avg 0.45 — better than Vistara historic but worse than IndiGo). The Maharaja Club tier-based support is meaningfully better than mass-market support.
Post-Vistara merger (April 2025), Air India operates 56 domestic + 48 international destinations. Long-haul highlights: New York JFK, Newark, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, London Heathrow + Birmingham, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Vienna, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Seoul. Strong Gulf network and growing Africa coverage (Nairobi, Lagos planned 2026). Star Alliance membership extends reach via United, Lufthansa, Singapore, ANA codeshares.
Domestic Economy: 7 kg cabin + 25 kg check-in (more generous than IndiGo's 15 kg). International Economy: 7 kg cabin + 30 kg check-in (Gulf/SE Asia) or 2×23 kg (US/UK/Europe under "piece concept"). Business: 2×32 kg (long-haul) or 40 kg (Gulf). Excess: ₹500–700 per kg domestic, route-dependent intl.
For domestic trips under 3 hours, IndiGo wins on OTP, frequency, and price. Air India wins if you value the lounge, the Maharaja Club, or want a meal on a 1-hour Delhi→Bombay hop without paying extra.
Vistara is now part of Air India (merger complete April 2025). The best of Vistara — service polish, soft product, Club Vistara loyalty — has folded into Maharaja Club + the new Air India brand. Some former-Vistara routes still feel slightly more service-polished, but the gap is narrowing fast.
Gulf carriers still win on hard-product polish + frequent network connections, but Air India's nonstop USA + UK options save 4–6 hours of travel time. For premium leisure, the Gulf carriers; for nonstop business travel, increasingly Air India.
Air India is meaningfully more reliable in 2026. SpiceJet remains cheaper on overlapping routes but the disruption risk is higher.
Yes. Air India holds IATA IOSA safety certification and operates a young 787/A350 long-haul fleet. The 2026 AI171 incident was investigated by AAIB India and confirmed no airworthiness defect. Overall safety record is in line with global full-service carrier averages.
On the A350-900 (fleet of 11) and refurbished 777-300ER, business class is genuinely competitive — flat-bed seats, multi-course meals, full lounge access. On older 787s and the 777-200LR, the hard product is dated and waiting on refurb. Always check the aircraft type before booking long-haul Air India business.
Vistara merged into Air India on 12 November 2024, with brand discontinuation completing in April 2025. All Vistara aircraft, routes, and loyalty miles transferred to Air India / Maharaja Club. The Vistara brand no longer operates.
25 kg check-in + 7 kg cabin baggage on Air India domestic Economy. This is more generous than IndiGo (15 kg) and SpiceJet (15 kg) for the same fare class.
Yes. Nonstop Air India routes to the USA in 2026: Delhi/Mumbai/Bengaluru → New York JFK, Newark EWR, Chicago ORD, San Francisco SFO, Washington DC IAD. These are predominantly operated by A350-900 and Boeing 777.
Yes — Star Alliance member since 2014. You can earn and redeem miles on Star Alliance carriers including United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Turkish Airlines, etc.
Air India is meaningfully better in 2026 than it was in 2022 — the A350 is genuinely competitive, the Vistara merger is complete, and the brand has been credibly restored. For long-haul international, this is the Indian flag carrier you want. For domestic, IndiGo and Akasa still beat it on the basics, but the lounge network and meal-included experience are worth paying ₹1,000–1,500 more for if you fly frequently.