Air India's First Made-for-Tata Dreamliner Is Here. Mumbai-Frankfurt Gets It First.

On January 11, Air India took delivery of something that might not sound exciting on paper but actually is: a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that was built specifically for them.

This is VT-AWA, the first "line-fit" widebody Air India has received since the Tata takeover. And starting February 1, it will fly between Mumbai and Frankfurt.

What's the Big Deal?

You might be wondering why this matters when Air India already has other wide body's. Here's the thing.

The A350-900s that Air India currently flies to New York and London? Those were originally ordered by Aeroflot. When Russia invaded Ukraine and sanctions kicked in, Airbus couldn't deliver them to Russia. So they repurposed six of those aircraft for Air India.

The 787-9s that fly to Frankfurt and Paris from Delhi? Those came from Vistara after the merger last November.

VT-AWA is different. This is the first widebody where Air India got to specify exactly what they wanted from the factory floor. The cabin layout, the seats, the in-flight entertainment, everything was chosen by Air India and installed during manufacturing. That's what "line-fit" means.

It's a small detail, but it marks the actual beginning of Air India's fleet transformation as they envisioned it.

What's Inside

The aircraft has 296 seats across three classes: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.

Business Class

The layout is 1-2-1, which means every seat has direct aisle access. And every seat has a privacy door that closes. This is the same business class product you'll find on Qatar Airways and American Airlines 787s.

It's a massive step up from Air India's older 2-2-2 layouts where window passengers had to climb over their neighbor.

Mumbai-Frankfurt: What Changes

Air India flies Mumbai to Frankfurt five times a week. Until now, this route has been using the ex-Delta 777-200LR, which has decent 1-2-1 business class suites but is getting old. Those aircraft are being phased out.

From February 1, the route switches to the new 787-9.

What's interesting is the Delhi to Frankfurt route already uses 787-9s (the ex-Vistara ones) with daily service. So now both Indian gateways to Frankfurt will have consistent aircraft with the same three-class setup: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.

This matters for a practical reason. If Air India needs to swap aircraft due to operational issues, or if you need to reroute through Delhi instead of Mumbai, you'll get a similar cabin experience. No more lottery of whether you'll end up on a modern lie-flat or an old recliner.

The Bigger Picture

Air India has ordered 20 Boeing 787-9s as part of their massive 470-aircraft order from 2023. VT-AWA is just the first.

For 2026, the airline expects to receive around six widebody aircraft total, a mix of additional 787-9s and the first A350-1000s (which will be their new flagship).

By the end of 2026, Air India says about 60% of their widebody fleet will have refreshed interiors. They're also retrofitting their older 787-8s with the same new business class suites.

For Points Travelers

If you're booking with Maharaja Club points, Mumbai to Frankfurt one-way costs:

• Business: 95,000 points
• Premium Economy: 60,000 points
• Economy: 34,000 points

The 787-9 with proper business class suites is a much better redemption than the older aircraft you might get on some other routes. Having doors and lie-flat seats with aisle access makes a difference when you're spending 95k points.

You can also book this route using points from other Star Alliance partners. Check which programs work for you on the Magnify app's award calculator.

We have a full guide on which Air India aircraft have lie-flat business class if you want to check before booking any route.

Bottom Line

Air India's fleet refresh is finally becoming real. The first purpose-built Dreamliner is here, and it's going on a route that matters.

Mumbai to Frankfurt, five times a week, starting February 1.