Air India is relying on the Dreamliner for global growth

The deadly accident involving Boeing 787-8 Air India flight bound for London in Ahmedabad on Thursday has redirected attention to Boeing, currently under a legal inquiry in the US. Air India still has 20 pending deliveries of B787-9 as a component of its global growth strategy.

Air India has been flying the Dreamliner for more than 12 years, having introduced its first unit in September 2012, making it the inaugural Indian operator of the aircraft and the fifth airline worldwide to operate the Dreamliner. Concerns have arisen regarding the Dreamliner fleet following unverified reports suggesting that the government could demand a safety review of all B787-8 series. The government stated that any decision would be made after the preliminary investigation report of the accident.

Air India operates two versions of Dreamliner in its fleet—B787-8 and B787-9. Most of Air India’s Dreamliners are the 787-8 variant (26), and it additionally operates seven 787-9 obtained in November from its merger with Vistara. The averages are 10.9 years and 4.7, respectively.

All of them operate on international routes linking major Indian cities to London, Dubai, Melbourne, Sydney, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Vienna, Milan, and Nairobi, along with other destinations within a flight range of 10 hours. Air India boasts an impressive order of 529 planes – 344 from Airbus and 185 from Boeing.

In early 2025, IndiGo acquired four B787-9 through damp lease from Norse Atlantic Airways for global growth. It has launched one on the Thailand route, with more planned for its expansions into Amsterdam and Manchester next month.

Boeing states that 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which began operations in 2011, may have lifespans of 50 years—approximately 44,000 flights per unit. The AI171 accident marks the initial crash of a Dreamliner, resulting in the deaths of 242 individuals aboard, including crew members, with only one survivor.