Air India is seeking to expand its order for wide-body aircraft as it works to increase international passenger traffic, chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam said on Tuesday. The Tata Group-owned carrier is also targeting a return to profitability in the near term, as its turnaround programme addresses fleet, network and service challenges. The comments came months after Gebremariam took charge of the airline.

Gebremariam, who previously led Ethiopian Airlines, said the airline wanted more wide-body aircraft. Air India has held discussions with Boeing and Airbus while assessing the economics of replacing or supplementing its older long-haul jets. The review reflects the carrier’s effort to align fleet capacity with its plans for overseas growth.

An industry source familiar with the discussions said older wide-body aircraft carry higher operating costs and are less efficient than newer models. Additional aircraft would allow Air India to connect more cities and reduce the impact of restrictions on using Pakistan’s airspace, which have complicated some international routes. The source said the airline’s existing network did not cover several potential destinations.

The airline’s plans come as it manages higher operating costs, geopolitical disruptions and continuing losses. It has been adding new aircraft and refurbishing older jets to improve onboard standards, strengthen its long-haul fleet and compete more aggressively on overseas routes. Fleet renewal remains a central part of its broader recovery effort.

Air India returned to Tata Group ownership in 2022 and has since pursued a multi-billion-dollar transformation programme. The initiative includes fleet renewal, cabin upgrades and network expansion, with the airline attempting to rebuild its position in international aviation. The proposed aircraft expansion would support those efforts while helping the carrier improve its international connectivity.