This week, Air India has revealed the small print of its transformation. Along with unveiling new branding (together with a brand new livery and brand), the airline has lastly pulled again the curtains on its new inflight expertise. Air India is introducing 4 new cabins, starting from top notch to economic system. Let’s go over the small print.
A take a look at Air India’s new lengthy haul cabins
Air India has revealed a roughly two minutes video showcasing the cabins of the service’s reconfigured Boeing 777s, although these interiors will even be discovered on different plane (I’ll talk about extra particulars of that beneath). Along with new seats, additionally notice that Air India can be introducing all-new inflight leisure, in addition to Wi-Fi, all through its lengthy haul fleet.
Under yow will discover that video, after which beneath I’ll talk about the small print of every cabin.
Air India’s new top notch
Air India can be sustaining top notch on some lengthy haul plane, although handle your expectations. The service’s top notch product can be primarily based on the Safran Unity seat, the identical present in enterprise class. Air India could have a single row of top notch, in a 1-2-1 configuration. Every seat can be totally flat and could have a door.
What differentiates the primary class arduous product from the enterprise class arduous product? It seems like top notch could have a bigger tv display, plus a bigger ottoman.
It’s attention-grabbing to see that Air India is selecting to keep up top notch, however isn’t really investing in a aggressive product. I suppose the airline is concentrated on effectivity and figured it may provide top notch with out a lot of a possibility price when it comes to seating capability, although this very a lot appears to fall into the “why hassle” class, and looks like an afterthought.
This feels to me extra like a enterprise class “plus” product, like what you’ll discover on Condor or Virgin Atlantic, reasonably than a first-class product.
I suppose we’ll see if Air India introduces some astonishingly good tender product to associate with it, however that hasn’t traditionally been the case. This cabin is a little bit of a head-scratcher to me, in contrast to the remainder of the airplane, which seems nice.
Air India’s new enterprise class
Now that is the place it will get thrilling. In enterprise class, Air India has chosen the Safran Unity seat, that means seats can be in a 1-2-1 configuration. This can be a staggered configuration, so seats in some rows are nearer to the aisle, whereas seats in different rows are nearer to the home windows.
Seats are totally flat with direct aisle entry, and also have a privateness door. You possibly can count on these seats to have nice tech, together with wi-fi charging and bluetooth audio.
This represents a fully huge enchancment over Air India’s present enterprise class. For what it’s price, this is identical product that Qantas has chosen for its Airbus A350-1000s, which is able to fly the world’s longest routes.
Air India’s new premium economic system
Air India will lastly be introducing a premium economic system product all through the lengthy haul fleet. This can be in a 2-4-2 configuration. Whereas the primary and enterprise class seats have pretty impartial finishes, the premium economic system and economic system seats are crimson, so have a bit extra “persona.”
We don’t but have too many extra particulars in regards to the premium economic system product, aside from that there can be seat again televisions and leg rests.
Air India’s new economic system
Air India will even be introducing a brand new economic system product. There’s in the end solely a lot innovation we see in economic system, although this seems moderately first rate.
The one catch is that on Boeing 777s, the airline can be going from a 3-3-3 configuration, to a 3-4-3 configuration. That’s not sudden, although, since that’s the trade customary, and economic system additionally has probably the most worth delicate clients. It’s an space the place it’s good for Air India to concentrate on price.
Which planes will get Air India’s new cabins, and when?
When can we count on to see these new Air India cabins?
- Beginning in 2024, newly delivered Air India huge physique jets (together with Airbus A350-900s) will function the brand new cabins; apparently Air India’s first A350-900 supply will occur in late 2023, and that’s a airplane that was designed for Aeroflot, so it’s going to function completely different interiors (just like what I simply skilled on Turkish Airways)
- Air India can be reconfiguring all of its current Boeing 777s and 787s, they usually’ll additionally get these new cabins; you may count on that mission to begin in mid 2024, and to take round 2.5 years
Subsequently you may count on these new cabins to be launched as of some level in 2024. It stays to be seen if a newly delivered plane or a reconfigured plane sports activities the brand new interiors first. In the meantime the primary plane to function the brand new livery can be an A350 delivered in late 2023.
Since there are 4 new cabins, can we count on all of these cabins on all of these planes, or what is going to that appear like?
- Air India is unquestionably putting in all 4 cabins (together with top notch) on reconfigured 777-300ERs
- It hasn’t but been confirmed if different plane, together with the A350 and 787, will function top notch
- All lengthy haul plane will function premium economic system going ahead
My tackle Air India’s new passenger expertise
I’m actually impressed by the best way that Air India is reinventing itself right here. The airline now clearly has a technique, and has incredible new interiors, with plans for Wi-Fi and upgraded leisure. If the airline can really comply with by means of on all of this, it’s going to maybe be the best airline turnaround of all time.
Now, personally I discover the brand new top notch reasonably underwhelming, however that’s minor within the scheme of issues, and can influence few passengers. The brand new enterprise class seems nice, by comparability (effectively, as a result of it’s mainly the identical).
With every thing that has been outlined thus far, I feel the most important query is whether or not Air India can enhance its tender product in the same approach to how we’re seeing the arduous product improved. Can Air India introduce nice inflight catering and facilities? Can the airline ship wonderful service?
Air India has some “legacy” points, as we see with airways in the US as effectively. You possibly can set up new seats all you need, but it surely doesn’t essentially change the tender product.
I’m rooting for Air India right here, as I’d like to see the airline change into one that folks fly not only for schedule, however for product.
Backside line
Air India has now revealed the small print of its new interiors, together with all new cabins. Most spectacular is Air India’s new enterprise class, which consists of totally flat seats with direct aisle entry and doorways. The airline is utilizing the identical product in top notch, which looks like an odd alternative. Air India will even be introducing premium economic system for the primary time on one among its personal jets, and is introducing new economic system seats.
You possibly can count on the primary Air India plane with the brand new interiors to be flying in 2024. Properly executed, Air India… now let’s simply get these planes into service!
What do you make of Air India’s new lengthy haul interiors?