Air India First Class to Fly on Airbus A350-1000

These premium cabins will be included on the A350-1000s, which are anticipated to be delivered within the next two years to meet growing demand.

GURUGRAM- Air India (AI) plans to reintroduce first-class seats on its wide-body Airbus A350-1000 flights, aiming to attract premium travelers in major global markets.

With a growing fleet of 202 aircraft, including 67 wide-body jets, Air India is investing in both new acquisitions and refurbishment. With its improved offers, the airline aims to target high-demand routes and premium destinations such as London and New York.

Air India First Class on Airbus A350

Air India (AI) is restoring first-class seats on its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, aiming to position the airline as a global leader in luxury travel.

According to Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, first-class offerings are still relevant and a characteristic of premium carriers on popular routes.

These premium cabins will be included on the A350-1000s, which are anticipated to be delivered within the next two years, to meet the growing demand for direct, luxury travel between major cities.

Aggarwal emphasized the significance of first class as a “aspirational product” that establishes the status of an airline.

With capacities ranging from 325 to 400 seats, the A350-1000 and Boeing 777X aircraft will provide passengers with a seamless luxury experience on ultra-long-haul itineraries.

The airline’s focus will be on wealthy markets such as London and New York, where demand for first-class services remains strong.

BIG PLANES BIGGER PLANS

Air India’s current widebody fleet includes 27 Boeing 777s, 40 Boeing 787s, and six Airbus A350s. Legacy Boeing 777s and certain leased aircraft already have first-class suites.

However, these planes are scheduled to be retrofitted to coincide with the airline’s objective of providing a consistent premium experience.

The retrofitting procedure will begin with Boeing 787s this year, with updates to vintage A320 neos slated to complete by mid-2025.

These enhancements will apply to Air India’s narrow-body aircraft, which account for 80% of its operations, ensuring a modern product for domestic and short-haul international passengers.

Despite difficulties such as technical issues and delays with its aging Boeing 777s, Air India is determined to streamlining its fleet. Aggarwal recognized the performance issues, but stressed the airline’s strategic buffer structure to reduce interruptions.

While no immediate reduction in ultra-long-haul services is envisaged, future flight increases are contingent on fleet performance and additional aircraft acquisitions.

The upgrade of legacy Boeing 777s will begin early next year, marking a big step toward aligning older aircraft with contemporary requirements.

Air India’s Future Plans

Acquiring wide-body aircraft is difficult owing to market constraints. While Air India is open to leasing, Aggarwal highlighted the challenges of integrating leased aircraft into the fleet.

The airline expects deliveries from recent orders to begin this year, with additional shipments in coming years, though particular quantities are dependent on Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) delays.

To improve customer retention, Air India is revising its corporate and loyalty offers. The new “Maharaja Club,” which currently has over 10.3 million members, will soon welcome Air India Express customers.

Corporate collaborations are also growing, especially on metro routes, where corporate traffic accounts for 25% of the total.

The merger with Vistara has strengthened Air India’s position by providing better pricing and customer experiences on metro-to-metro routes.

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