Air India’s international makeover: More flights, new interiors, First Class expansion

Air India said on Monday it will deploy aircraft with new or upgraded cabin interiors on more international routes this summer, while also increasing frequencies to major destinations including Toronto, Seoul and Shanghai.

The Tata Group-owned carrier said it would add capacity on several long-haul routes between February and March.

The airline deployed Boeing 787-9 aircraft on the Delhi–Tokyo (Haneda) route from February 14, introducing Premium Economy and adding about 2,400 seats a month.

From March 1, frequencies on the Delhi–Toronto sector will rise from seven to 10 flights a week, while services to Seoul (Incheon) will increase to six weekly from March 29.

Newly launched Delhi–Shanghai flights will also rise to five weekly, adding around 2,048 seats per month on each route.

From July 1, Mumbai–London (Heathrow) flights will switch to a mix of new Boeing 787-9s and retrofitted 787-8s with redesigned cabins, replacing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft currently used on the route.

Daily Delhi–Melbourne services will also shift to upgraded Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, introducing First Class on the route.

The aircraft will feature eight First Class suites, 40 fully flat Business Class beds and 280 Economy seats, adding nearly 4,000 seats every month between the two cities.

Bengaluru-London (Heathrow) flights will, from August 1, operate with the airline’s retrofitted B787-8 aircraft, featuring new cabin interiors.

On the Delhi–Toronto route, seven weekly flights will be operated by incoming new 787-9 aircraft with Premium Economy, while the remaining three weekly services will continue with legacy 777-300ER planes.

“With this, more than 50% of Air India’s North America flights will be operated with new or upgraded cabin interiors,” Air India said.

The airline also said flights to Birmingham from Amritsar and Delhi, and to London (Gatwick) from Ahmedabad and Amritsar, will be operated using legacy 777-300ER aircraft, introducing First Class on these routes.

Air India is currently retrofitting 26 legacy Boeing 787-8 aircraft with brand-new cabin interiors and its new livery, with the first two expected to return to service in the coming weeks and more joining progressively through 2026.

The carrier also expects deliveries of three new Boeing 787-9 and two Airbus A350-1000 aircraft this year.