Air India has retired its last Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, ending a nearly two-decade association with one of the world’s longest-range commercial jets. The final aircraft, registered VT-AEI, operated its last commercial flight on April 28 and is currently undergoing final checks at Nagpur, sources said.
The aircraft was among five Boeing 777-200LRs inducted on short-term dry leases after being retired by Delta Air Lines during the Covid period. The leased aircraft helped Air India bridge fleet gaps following the Tata Group’s acquisition of the airline and enabled additional nonstop services to San Francisco from Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The phase-out of the aircraft also coincided with the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian carriers from April 2025, which forced Air India to introduce technical stops on several US-bound routes. Before retirement, the final 777-200LR was primarily deployed on Frankfurt services from Mumbai and Delhi, routes now being operated by the larger Boeing 777-300ER for now.
Air India’s association with the type began in 2006 when the then state-owned carrier placed a landmark order for 68 Boeing aircraft, including eight 777-200LRs, as part of an ambitious international expansion strategy. Deliveries started in 2007, coinciding with surging crude oil prices and the global financial crisis.
07/05/2026 Akbar Merchant/Financial Express
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