Air India has successfully brought back one of its long-grounded Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, VT-ALL, after an extensive restoration programme carried out at the AIESL Nagpur MRO facility. The aircraft officially rejoined active service on March 15, 2026, marking a major achievement for the airline’s fleet modernization and recovery efforts.
Delivered to Air India nearly 18 years ago, VT-ALL was originally named “GOA” after India’s globally famous beach destination known for its coconut-lined coastlines and tourism appeal. The Boeing 777-300ER served the airline’s long-haul operations for over a decade before being grounded in February 2020 due to multiple unserviceable systems and aging aircraft components.
As the Boeing 777 remains the backbone of Air India’s international fleet, the airline could not afford to keep a widebody aircraft inactive for long, especially following its privatization and ongoing transformation plans. In May 2025, the aircraft entered the AIESL Nagpur MRO facility for what became a complete nose-to-tail restoration and technical overhaul.
Engineers and maintenance teams reportedly worked extensively on restoring critical systems, interiors, and operational performance to return the aircraft to flying condition. After months of work, VT-ALL successfully completed its restoration and is now operating daily flights once again as part of Air India’s active fleet.
The return of the aircraft highlights Air India’s renewed focus on fleet expansion, maintenance upgrades, and maximizing aircraft availability as the airline continues rebuilding its long-haul network under the Tata Group era.