DELHI- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) will return five leased Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to Delta Air Lines (DL) by March 2026, marking the end of their lease agreement.
Two of these wide-body jets have already been withdrawn from service for maintenance, and the remaining aircraft will be phased out in stages as part of Air India’s fleet transition strategy.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalAir India to Return 777s to Delta
Air India confirmed that the return of the Boeing 777-200LRs is in line with the planned conclusion of lease terms. As part of this process, the airline has already restructured some of its North American routes.
Certain services once operated with the 777-200LRs have shifted to the larger Boeing 777-300ER, ensuring continuity while minimizing disruptions to passengers.
The leased aircraft, originally sourced from Delta Air Lines, had encountered technical issues during its service period.
Although Air India previously explored extending the lease or acquiring the refurbished planes outright, Delta opted to sell the aircraft to another buyer, ending the possibility of further use by Air India.
Photo: EurospotCurrent Wide-Body Fleet Strength
As of now, Air India operates a fleet of 187 aircraft, comprising 127 narrow-body and 60 wide-body planes. Within this, the wide-body segment includes:
- 22 Boeing 777s (19 B777-300ERs and 3 B777-200LRs)
- 32 Boeing 787 Dreamliners (26 B787-8s and 6 B787-9s)
- 6 Airbus A350s
The narrow-body fleet consists of Airbus A319s, A320ceos, A320neos, A321ceos, and A321neos, which primarily serve domestic and short-haul international routes.
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)Impact on Long-Haul Operations
The phased return of the 777-200LRs places temporary constraints on Air India’s ability to expand its long-haul and ultra-long-haul services, particularly to North America.
For example, the airline has already transitioned its Delhi (DEL) to San Francisco (SFO) service from the 777-200LR to the 777-300ER, a move aimed at maintaining schedule integrity despite the fleet adjustment.
Supply chain challenges in the global aviation industry have further complicated long-term fleet planning. Aircraft deliveries remain delayed, prompting airlines worldwide, including Air India, to rely on short-term leases to meet the growing demand for international travel.
Photo: The QuintOutlook on Fleet Expansion
Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson noted earlier this year that while supply chain constraints remain, the situation is gradually improving. However, he projected that the industry-wide recovery will take several more years, with stability expected closer to 2029 or 2030.
Until then, Air India will continue balancing its fleet through lease returns, aircraft acquisitions, and strategic deployment of its wide-body capacity to ensure it can sustain and gradually expand its long-haul network.
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Air India Checks Boeing 777 Fleet, Cuts 15% International Flights
The post Air India to Return 5 Leased Boeing 777s to This US Airline appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
