Air India Express was formed by combining the erstwhile Air India Express and AirAsia India. The airline is a low-cost carrier under the Air India banner and serves routes where Air India believes it cannot operate a three-cabin product and achieve the revenue yield it desires. The airline operates Boeing 737-800s and, in combination with AirAsia India, Airbus A320/neo-family aircraft. As part of the mega Air India order, 190 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft were ordered for Air India Express specifically. The first Boeing 737-8 was delivered to AIX in September 2023, and the 50th one was delivered in July 2025. All 50 aircraft were white tails, made for other airlines (primarily Chinese) and shipped to India, then sent to the paint shop for painting in the new Air India Express livery. And then the Boeing supply dried up, as Boeing had reduced 737 MAX production due to the FAA-imposed rate reduction to 38 aircraft per month. This has recently improved, and Akasa Air has resumed its aircraft deliveries.
Air India Express inducts first line-fit Boeing 737-8
Air India Express welcomed its 51st B737-8, which is its first line-fit aircraft, at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at the end of December 2025. Configured and designed to Air India Express specifications by Boeing, the aircraft features a cabin designed to enhance comfort, space and convenience. Flown directly from Boeing’s facility in Seattle, the aircraft marks an essential milestone in the airline’s fleet modernisation programme and is scheduled to enter service in January.
VT-RNT, the first line-fit 737-8 for Air India Express, departing Everett for Delhi.
The line-fit aircraft incorporates a comprehensive set of enhancements consistent with the new branding. The cabin features ergonomically designed seats with comfortable cushioning, generous legroom, and a fast-charging power outlet in each seat. It also has onboard ovens for hot ‘Gourmair’ meals, larger overhead bins for cabin baggage, a quieter cabin environment and Boeing’s Sky Interior with soothing mood lighting, creating a modern and welcoming cabin environment.
This is the 51st Boeing 737-8 aircraft inducted by Air India Express since its transition to the Tata group, further strengthening its position as the country’s largest Boeing operator. The airline now operates a fleet of over 100 aircraft. In 2025, the airline also inducted four A321neos, four A320neos and three A320ceos.
Commenting on the induction of the airline’s first line-fit aircraft, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said,
We are proud to welcome our 51st Boeing B737-8, the first of the fully customised line-fit aircraft, marking a significant step in Air India Express’ fleet modernisation journey. Two-thirds of the airline fleet is now comprising of modern B737-8s and A320/321Neo aircraft, offering better fuel-efficiency and superior on-board comfort. On the back of this rapid fleet growth, we have expanded our network to 60 destinations, adding 12 destinations in 2025 alone. As India’s aviation market continues to evolve, Air India Express is emerging as a strong connector of New India, enhancing connectivity to/from tier-2 and tier-3 cities with network footprint spanning India, the Middle East, South East Asia and South Asia.”
The airline has also commenced a programme to retrofit new seats on its existing Boeing 737-8 aircraft already in service to offer consistency across the fleet. As part of this initiative, 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft will be upgraded to a standardised 189-seat configuration, with two jets already completed.
Bottomline
Air India Express has received its first line-fit Boeing 737-8 aircraft from Boeing, with this one bearing the tail registration VT-RNT, as a special commemoration for Ratan Tata, a force in Indian aviation. From now on, it is expected that AIX will receive another 139 aircraft from Boeing at a good cadence over the years.
What do you think of the new aircraft deliveries to Air India Express?
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Are the remaining 139 aircraft going to be all line-fit aircraft similar to this one? Also, when are the older Boeing 737–800’s going to get phased out?
@Anumit, yes, the remaining 139 aircraft will be line-fit as well. And the existing 50 of the 737 MAX tails have also started a retrofit. These will move into the same layout and materials and LOPA as line fit ones within the next six months