Air India (AI) started operating its newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on flights AI131 and AI130 between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Mumbai and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The Tata Group-owned carrier confirmed the deployment in its Northern Summer Schedule update, and multiple outlets reported the aircraft entering service on the day. The move adds a dedicated Premium Economy cabin to the route for the first time and introduces new Business Class suites.
The new aircraft is one of the first Boeing 787-9s built specifically for Air India on Boeing’s production line, rather than retrofitted from an older jet. Air India deployed it to modernize its flagship India-UK corridor and to compete more effectively for premium and long-haul traffic between Mumbai and one of the world’s busiest airports.
New Boeing 787-9 Replaces the Boeing 777-300ER on AI131 and AI130
Air India’s Mumbai-Heathrow route previously ran on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. From July 1, the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner took over flights AI131 and AI130, according to the airline. A second daily Mumbai-Heathrow service continues to fly the upgraded Boeing 777-300ER, which carries a First-Class cabin that the 787-9 does not offer.
This creates a dual-aircraft strategy on the route. Passengers who want First Class must still book the 777-300ER service. Those who prefer the newest cabin hardware, including the first purpose-built Premium Economy product on this corridor, can choose the 787-9.
Air India’s February 2026 press release had originally described the Mumbai-Heathrow upgrade as a mix of new B787-9 and retrofitted legacy B787-8 aircraft. By launch day, reports from the Tribune and ANI confirmed the newly delivered 787-9 as the aircraft actually operating AI131 and AI130.
Three-Class Cabin Carries 30 Business Suites, 28 Premium Economy and 238 Economy Seats
The new Boeing 787-9 seats 296 passengers across three cabins. Air India said the aircraft carries 30 Business Class suites, 28 Premium Economy seats and 238 Economy seats, according to a report in the Tribune. The interiors were installed directly on Boeing’s production line, making this one of the first line-fit Dreamliners built to Air India’s own specification.
The cabin layout reflects Air India’s broader transformation programme, which has already brought similar three-class 787-9 configurations to its Delhi-Tokyo Haneda route. The airline is retrofitting 26 older 787-8 aircraft with the same interior standard.
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Business Class Suites Offer Direct Aisle Access and 79-inch Flat Beds
Business Class on the new aircraft moves to a suite-style layout. Key features include:
- Direct aisle access from every seat
- Fully flat beds stretching 79 inches
- Wireless charging points
- Additional personal storage space
- A 17-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen for entertainment
This suite product mirrors the Business Class Air India introduced on its retrofitted 787-8 fleet, where each suite includes a privacy sliding door in a 1-2-1 layout. The airline has positioned the suite as a long-haul rest product aimed at business travellers on the India-UK corridor, where flight times run close to nine hours.
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Premium Economy Debuts with a 2-3-2 Layout and 38-inch Pitch
The most significant change for Mumbai-Heathrow travellers is the arrival of Premium Economy, a cabin the route never had before. The new class sits in a 2-3-2 configuration and includes a 38-inch seat pitch, extra recline, adjustable headrests, adjustable leg and calf rests, and a 13.3-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen.
Air India plans to extend the same Premium Economy product to its Bengaluru-Heathrow route from August 1, 2026, using retrofitted B787-8 aircraft. Once that switch happens, every Air India flight to and from Heathrow will operate with new-generation cabin interiors, the airline confirmed in its February press note.
Economy Cabin and Thales Avant up Entertainment System
Economy Class seats on the 787-9 come with an 11.6-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen and an integrated personal device holder, built for long-haul comfort rather than short regional hops. Across all three cabins, Air India fitted the Thales AVANT Up inflight entertainment platform. The system supports Bluetooth headphone pairing, USB-A and USB-C charging ports, AC power outlets, and more than 3,000 hours of content.
The cabin also carries mood lighting inspired by Indian wellness traditions, along with refreshed onboard products. These include curated Indian and international menus, premium chinaware and glassware, new tableware, and redesigned amenity kits.
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How This Fits Air India’s Wider Fleet Transformation
The Mumbai-Heathrow deployment is one part of a larger schedule change Air India first announced in February 2026. Other routes receiving new or upgraded aircraft this year include:
- Delhi-Tokyo Haneda, which moved to a three-class B787-9 configuration on February 14
- Delhi-Melbourne, where a B777-300ER with First Class began daily service from July 1
- Delhi-Toronto, which gains new B787-9 aircraft with Premium Economy on part of its schedule from August 1
- Bengaluru-Heathrow, moving to retrofitted B787-8 aircraft with Premium Economy from August 1
Air India’s chief executive, Campbell Wilson, described the wider retrofit programme in similar terms when the airline unveiled its first refurbished B787-8 earlier this year. He called it “a yet another proud milestone in our transformation journey.” Air India expects to complete the full 26-aircraft B787-8 retrofit programme by 2027 and has three more line-fit B787-9 and two line-fit A350-1000 aircraft due for delivery before the end of 2026.
Why the UK Route Matters for Air India
The United Kingdom remains one of Air India’s largest overseas markets. The airline currently operates 57 weekly non-stop flights between India and the UK, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Amritsar with Heathrow, London Gatwick and Birmingham. Demand comes from business travellers, tourists and the Indian diaspora in Britain.
Heathrow itself remains under sustained passenger growth pressure, having handled a record 83.9 million passengers in 2024. The airport has separately confirmed a £1.3 billion investment programme in 2026 aimed at expanding terminal capacity and improving baggage handling, giving airlines like Air India more room to grow premium and long-haul capacity into the hub over the coming years.