Air India has revealed a sneak peek of brand-new cabins launching on its wide-bodied fleet from later this year.
New aircraft featuring the reimagined cabins are being delivered from November, and the airline is refurbishing the interiors of its legacy fleet of 43 wide-bodied aircraft from mid-2024.
The carrier said that by March 2024, 33 per cent of its widebody fleet will be upgraded, and over the next two and a half years, ‘the entire long-haul fleet will be reborn’.
The ‘fly-through’ video shows viewers the all-new first class, business, premium economy and economy cabins in a Boeing 777-300ER.
And here we present stills of them side by side with the current cabins.
NEW AND CURRENT FIRST CLASS: The first three images here show the brand-new first class Air India cabin, with the current version shown in the bottom image
The new cabins are part of a $400million (£315million) refurbishment programme, which will see the old mustard-and-red cabins replaced with swankier new seats that come with a new inflight entertainment system and inflight Wi-Fi connectivity.
Air India has confirmed purchase agreements to acquire 470 short and long-haul aircraft from Airbus and Boeing in a deal worth $70billion (£55billion).
The New Delhi-based airline has also unveiled a ‘modern new brand identity and aircraft livery that captures the essence of a bold new India’.
NEW AND CURRENT BUSINESS CLASS: The first two images show the new business class – the bottom two images the current version
The airline, whose global hub is Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, said: ‘The new look reimagines the iconic Indian window shape, historically used by Air India, into a gold window frame that becomes central to the new brand design system – symbolising a “Window of Possibilities”.
‘The new logo symbol – “The Vista” – is inspired by the peak of the gold window frame, signifying limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and the airline’s bold, confident outlook for the future.
Travellers will see the new logo and livery – in addition to the new cabin – on flights from December 2023, when Air India’s first Airbus A350 enters the fleet.
NEW AND CURRENT ECONOMY: The top images show the new economy class for Air India, the bottom image the current version
The carrier is also launching a new ‘open all hours, every day’ customer contact centre in nine Indian and foreign languages by the end of this year.
The airline is also investing in building new lounges in Delhi and New York JFK airports – and has welcomed more than 5,000 new staff.
A recruitment drive has seen 3,200 cabin crew and nearly 1,000 pilots join the airline, ‘helping to drive the cultural transformation taking place at the heart of Air India’.
This rendering shows the brand-new Air India premium economy cabin
This image shows Air India’s new logo – called ‘The Vista’
The carrier is also planning to build one of the world’s largest aviation training academies in India, on a site near New Delhi.
Campbell Wilson, Air India CEO and MD, said: ‘Our transformative new brand reflects an ambition to make Air India a world-class airline serving guests from around the globe, and that represents a new India proudly on the global stage.
‘The new Air India is bold, confident, and vibrant, but also warm and deeply rooted to its rich history and traditions that make Indian hospitality a global benchmark for standards in service.’
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