Air India has selected Recaro Aircraft Seating for the premium economy and economy cabins of its Boeing 787-8 retrofit program. The first retrofitted 787-8, registered VT-ANT, has been unveiled after a complete nose-to-tail cabin refresh, introducing Recaro PL3530 seats in premium economy and CL3710 in economy.
This marks the launch of a major upgrade covering 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, with nearly 6,000 Recaro seats to be installed. The retrofit transforms the previous two-class layout into a modern three-class configuration, aligning with Air India’s latest widebody standards seen on its Boeing 787-9 fleet inducted in January 2026.
Premium economy features 25 Recaro PL3530 seats in a 2-3-2 layout, offering 38-inch pitch, 7-inch recline, 6-way headrest, calf and leg rests, 13.3-inch 4K QLED HDR screens, and fast-charging ports. All seats include Thales AVANT Up inflight entertainment systems.
Additional upgrades encompass new carpets, curtains, wall laminates, galley overhauls, lavatory refreshes, overhead bin panels, and a new Cabin Service System. The program, part of a $400 million widebody initiative, supports Air India’s long-haul operations and fleet modernization.
Air India plans to complete retrofits on eight legacy 787-8s this year, targeting 85% of the fleet by end-2027 and full completion by Q1 2028. This enhances passenger comfort and competitiveness on key routes.