Air India’s long history amid Boeing 787 crash fallout, fleet expansion and Tata revival

Indian investigators are expected to delay issuing a final report into a deadly Air India Boeing 787 crash by the one-year anniversary on Friday, citing the need to complete an analysis of the plane's engines, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. The airline has come under intense scrutiny since the crash on June 12, 2025, which was the world's deadliest air disaster in a decade. Here are the facts about the airline's long history: FOUNDED IN 1932 Air India was started by entrepreneur JRD Tata in 1932, before being taken over by the Indian government in 1953. Under the government, years of mismanagement and rising competition led to ballooning debts at the carrier. Tata Group took over the airline's operations in a $2.2 billion deal in 2022 and has since tried to revive its fortunes. Singapore Airlines is a minority shareholder with a 25% stake. FLEET, ROUTES The Air India Group, which includes full-service carrier Air India and budget subsidiary Air India Express, currently flies to 60 domestic and 51 international destinations. Air India has a fleet of 184 aircraft, comprising narrowbody and widebody models from Airbus and widebody planes from Boeing. The airline's international routes have come under pressure from the dual effects of the Iran war and the Pakistan airspace ban, while it has also cut some capacity domestically amid high jet fuel prices. The group recorded losses of more than $2 billion during the financial year ended in March, the highest in its history. An Air India passenger plane flies near houses as it makes its landing approach to Heathrow Airport in west London, Britain, January 28, 2025. (Image is for illustrative purposes only) REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo RECORD AIRBUS, BOEING ORDER Air India placed what was then the world's largest aircraft order for a combined 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing in February 2023. This was topped up with an order for another 100 jets from Airbus in December 2024. The airline is in talks with Airbus and Boeing to add more aircraft, Reuters reported last year. The negotiations include as many as 80 to 100 wide-body jets and 200 narrow-body jets. MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR RETROFIT The company in mid-2023 unveiled a new logo, branding and plane livery. It also embarked on a $400 million refurbishment and retrofitting plan of its aircraft interiors, which has been dogged by supply chain delays. The carrier has retrofitted most of its single-aisle Airbus A320neo aircraft and is working on updating its long-haul Boeing 777 and 787 jets. Management Team Air India CEO Campbell Wilson announced in April that he had resigned but would stay on until a successor was appointed. The search for his successor has narrowed to the airline's Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal and Singapore Airlines executive Vinod Kannan, Reuters has reported.