Charting a new flight path

BESIDES SPRUCING UP ITS FLEET, AIR INDIA MUST STRIVE TO BRING IN CONSISTENCY IN SERVICE STANDARDS TO BE ABLE TO POSE A CHALLENGE TO INDIGO'S DOMINANCE

- YARUQHULLAH KHAN

EXACTLY A YEAR ago, Air India's management had declared that its new First Class product, that debuted with its wide-body fleet, would offer high-net-worth individuals an alternative to private jets on long-haul routes, such as Delhi to London.

“Even if you have a private jet, you can’t fly to the US from India in your private jet without a stop. With our first-class product, you can fly nonstop and reach faster,” Air India’s Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer Nipun Aggarwal had said in January 2025.

Since then the airline has worked overtime to refurbish the entire offering. To start with, it has invested ₹9,558 crore to spruce up its fleet. It welcomed its first new Boeing 787-9 on Christmas day, 2025, and is set to receive the first A350-1000 later this month. Both new aircraft feature updated interior design, modern in-flight entertainment systems, and seating in the airline's new colour palette.

Over 104 of the A320 family aircraft already sport new interiors, 26 of the B787-8 aircraft are in the refurbishment pipeline and another 570 new aircraft on firm order.

The Air India group expects to induct a total of 46 aircraft in 2026, which includes 40 narrow-body and six wide-body aircraft.