To say that management at Indian multinational conglomerate Tata is busy these days is perhaps an understatement. The group is in the process of consolidating Air India with newly acquired Vistara, and expects to complete the process in March 2024. It is also creating AIX Connect from the merger of Air India Express with another budget operator, AirAsia India.
But as choices are made about fleets, routes, branding, system integration and aircraft upgrades, rising costs and post-Covid supply chain constraints — which are impacting the entire industry — have created some understandable challenges for Tata, given its monumental undertaking.
These bottlenecks have seen the group adopt a ‘take while obtainable’ stance, giving product commonality a backseat for now, including for aircraft interiors.
For instance, whilst Air India is gearing up to take delivery of the first of six new Airbus A350-900s — widebodies that were originally destined for Russian flag carrier Aeroflot — a decision has been taken to retain the same seats and in-seat Panasonic Avionics IFE.
However, even as it retains the same configuration and seating platforms, RGN has learned that Air India will replace the blue seat covers and burnt orange headrest fabric, as well as Aeroflot’s logo, with Air India’s own branding and colors, which will soon be revealed.
Air France Industries-KLM Engineering & Maintenance is handling this soft cabin upgrade.
Air India will keep the hard product and configuration, but will change the seat covers and indeed Aeroflot’s embossed branding. Image: Marisa Garcia
The first Air India A350-900 with the new interior colors, materials and finish (CMF) is scheduled to be delivered before 25 December, we’re told. New uniforms for the crew, spearheaded by Indian designer Manish Malhotra, will also be revealed at that time. In the meantime, the first A350 recently broke cover with the carrier’s new livery.
The majestic A350 in Air India’s new livery at the paint shop in Toulouse. Image: Air India
A further order for 34 A350s, in the -1000 variant, will be directly line-fitted by Airbus with new interiors. Deliveries are scheduled to start by late 2025 or early 2026.
Air India’s livery looks impressive on the venerable A350-900. Image: Air India
Air India’s ‘take while obtainable’ approach is working well elsewhere in the carrier’s fleet. Its six, leased ex-Delta Boeing 777-200s are presently delighting passengers on key routes, and the first of five ex-Etihad 777-300s have arrived.
“We are delighted to now offer an elevated experience on all routes from Mumbai to the United States, and to upgrade one of our London services,” says Air India managing director and CEO Campbell Wilson in a statement.
“This is part of the ongoing product transformation underway at Air India, with seven new 777s inducted over the last year to be followed by four more, along with six new Airbus A350s, over the coming months.”
As reported by RGN, Boeing has been tapped to retrofit Air India’s 27 Boeing 787-8s with new interiors, whilst HAECO will equip the carrier’s 16 Boeing 777s. The 777 refit looks spectacular, with Safran Seats France’s Unity herringbone serving as the platform for both first and business class. But we’re told that work may not begin until the last quarter of 2024. Interestingly, a decision may be made to turn some 777s into freighters.
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- Vistara makes good on Premium Economy promise
- How other airlines’ PaxEx will help Air India to climb
- Air India gets a Delta-shaped PaxEx upgrade with 777-200LRs
Featured image credited to Air India
