Air India is at present present process a formidable transformation, to a scale we’ve by no means seen earlier than at any airline. Air India has already revealed its new lengthy haul first and enterprise expertise, which might be obtainable on the service’s new extensive physique plane, and also will be retrofitted on current plane.
The airline has now revealed its new brief and medium haul passenger expertise, which might be obtainable on the service’s A320 fleet. I’m blissful to see this announcement, and specifically, how briskly plane will begin to function these interiors.
Air India’s new three-class Airbus A320 interiors
Air India has simply revealed a brand new three-class configuration for its Airbus A320 fleet, together with a brand new enterprise class, premium economic system, and economic system, all developed in partnership with Collins Aerospace.
On the Airbus A320 (together with the A320neo), there might be a complete of 164 seats, together with eight enterprise class seats, 24 premium economic system seats, and 132 economic system seats.
Air India’s new brief haul enterprise class has 40″ of pitch with 7″ of recline, and is in a 2-2 configuration. Enterprise class options an adjustable armrest, footrest, and backrest, a tray desk that features a transportable digital gadget holder, and a number of charging ports.
Air India’s new brief haul premium economic system has 32″ of pitch with 4″ of recline, and is in a 3-3 configuration. Premium economic system includes a four-way headrest, transportable digital gadget holder, a USB charging port, and a coat hook.
Air India’s premium economic system is probably extra in step with what you’d count on in an additional legroom economic system part on a US airline. What makes it distinctive is that there’s a curtain behind the cabin, and that it options extra meal choices served in upgraded crockery and cutlery.
Air India’s new brief haul economic system has 28-29″ of pitch with 4″ of recline, and is in a 3-3 configuration. Financial system includes a transportable digital gadget holder, a USB charging port, and a coat hook.
Right here’s how Air India CEO Campbell Wilson describes this new product:
“The introduction of a three-class cabin to Air India’s narrowbody fleet and graduation of inside refits are necessary steps within the journey of enhancing the flying expertise. The improve of the narrowbody fleet, which operates on home and short-haul worldwide community, enhances the upgraded widebody expertise now obtainable on our A350 fleet and new B777s, and on all different widebodies as they’re refitted over the subsequent two years. This complete upgradation of Air India’s bodily product is a crucial element of reworking right into a world-class airline.”
Air India will aggressively roll out this product
Air India plans to roll out its new slender physique product at a formidable tempo. The product will enter passenger service on choose routes as of July 1, 2024. Air India has retrofitted two Airbus A320neo plane, with the registration codes VT-RTW and VT-RTZ, and people would be the first planes to boast the brand new cabins.
Over the subsequent yr, Air India plans to retrofit its complete full service slender physique fleet with this subsequent product, so hopefully it’s obtainable on all plane by mid-2025. In the meantime all newly delivered Air India slender physique jets might be delivered with these interiors put in.
Retrofitting all the slender physique fleet in round a yr is fairly spectacular, so I’m blissful to see the service’s plans.
My tackle Air India’s new slender physique expertise
I’m blissful to see that Air India lastly has plans to introduce a brand new slender physique expertise. The service’s A320-family interiors have been fairly tough for a while, and I’ve been stunned that the airline has continued to take supply of recent jets with actually outdated interiors.
Admittedly Air India’s slender physique passenger expertise isn’t going to be something superb by international requirements. There are not any seat again televisions, or something, however that’s truthful sufficient, when you think about the aggressive panorama within the nation.
Right here’s what I discover most attention-grabbing:
- Air India is decreasing the scale of its enterprise class cabin by one-third, from 12 seats to eight seats, in order that’s not nice when it comes to enterprise class fares, upgrades, and awards
- The idea of a premium economic system cabin on home flights is cool, although with simply 32″ of pitch and a normal 3-3 configuration, positively handle your expectations
- The 28-29″ of pitch in economic system is tough, but in addition appears to be the usual in India
- As these jets are reconfigured, their capability will enhance from 162 seats to 164 seats, with enterprise class being diminished by 4 seats, the 24 premium economic system seats being new, and economic system being diminished by 18 seats
Backside line
Air India is introducing new interiors for its slender physique plane, which can assist the airline modernize on home and brief haul worldwide flights. You may count on a brand new enterprise class, the introduction of premium economic system, and in addition new seats in economic system. I don’t suppose there’s something right here that’s tremendous stunning, although the introduction of a premium economic system cabin is attention-grabbing.
What do you make of Air India’s new slender physique interiors?
