This article is based on an official press release from Air India and verified industry reporting regarding Wings India 2026.

Air India Secures Fleet Reliability with Major Boeing Component Services Deal

Air India has announced a significant multi-year agreement with Boeing Global Services to implement a comprehensive Component Services Program (CSP) across its entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The deal, unveiled on January 28, 2026, at the Wings India aviation show in Hyderabad, marks a critical step in the airline’s ongoing “Vihaan.AI” transformation strategy.

According to the official announcement, the agreement covers both the airline‘s existing 787-8 aircraft and the new 787-9s currently on order. The partnership is designed to streamline maintenance operations, reduce aircraft downtime, and support Air India’s aggressive expansion into international markets by ensuring higher fleet availability.

Enhancing Operational Efficiency Through Component Pooling

The core of this agreement centers on a “Rotable Exchange Program.” Under this model, Air India gains access to Boeing’s global inventory of high-value, dispatch-critical parts. Rather than maintaining a massive, capital-intensive inventory of spare components or waiting for specific parts to be repaired, the airline can immediately swap unserviceable parts for fully functional ones from Boeing’s pool.

In a press statement regarding the partnership, Sisira Kanta Dash, Chief Technical Officer at Air India, emphasized the necessity of this support structure for the airline’s growth.

“As Air India transforms into a globally competitive full-service carrier, dependable component support is vital to sustaining high operational standards across our expanding Boeing 787 operations. This agreement… provides integrated solutions needed to deliver greater fleet efficiency, reduced downtime, and consistent service excellence.”

, Sisira Kanta Dash, Chief Technical Officer, Air India

The program includes comprehensive logistics support, where Boeing manages the global transportation of parts to ensure they arrive exactly where the aircraft is located. Additionally, the manufacturer will handle obsolescence management, ensuring that Air India’s fleet remains compliant with the latest technical standards without the airline needing to manage complex modification programs independently.

AirPro News Analysis: The Strategic Value of Rotable Programs

From an operational standpoint, shifting to a Component Services Program allows airlines to convert fixed capital costs into variable operating costs. “Rotables”, high-value parts like avionics computers or hydraulic pumps, are expensive to own and store. By subscribing to Boeing’s pool, Air India frees up capital that would otherwise be tied up in spare parts inventory. Furthermore, this move directly addresses “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG) risks; by leveraging Boeing’s global supply chain, the airline can significantly reduce the time an aircraft sits idle waiting for repairs, a critical metric for maintaining schedule integrity during their current expansion phase.

Broader Expansion at Wings India 2026

This service agreement was not the only major announcement from Air India at the Hyderabad event. To bolster its domestic and regional network, the airline also confirmed an order for 30 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. This order includes 20 of the 737-8 variant and 10 of the 737-10 variant.

These developments occur alongside a massive $400 million retrofit program aimed at upgrading the interiors of Air India’s legacy widebody fleet, including its 787s and 777s. The combination of interior upgrades and the new mechanical support agreement signals a holistic approach to modernizing the passenger experience and the technical reliability of the aircraft.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Component Services Program (CSP)?
A CSP is a maintenance agreement where an airline pays a manufacturer or MRO provider for access to a shared pool of parts. This ensures immediate access to spares without the airline needing to buy and store them all individually.

Which aircraft are covered by this deal?
The agreement covers Air India’s entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including the 787-8 and the incoming 787-9 models.

What is the “Vihaan.AI” plan?
Vihaan.AI is Air India’s comprehensive transformation roadmap aimed at establishing the airline as a world-class global carrier through fleet modernization, digital innovation, and operational optimization.

Sources

• Air India Press Release