London: Tata Group air carrier Air India said it had entered the 2nd year of its 5-year transformation plans vihaan.ai, and commemorated the occasion by inducting the ‘Vista Verve’, India’s first Airbus A350 jet into its fleet. The airline also shared a glimpse of its retrofitted A320 neo jets on its social media handles.
Tata Group purchased the airline from the Indian government in 2022. Since then, it has laid out a transformation plan including retrofitting of jets and induction of new jets, apart from the consolidation of its brand portfolio. o
Air India A350 jet features
Air India inducted the first of its 40 A350 jets in December 2023. This is part of its 470 jet deal inked with both Airbus and Boeing. Currently, Air India has 6 A350 jets as part of its fleet. The new jets are equipped with the latest in terms of crockery and tableware.
The planes offer business and premium economy offerings for passengers who will witness updates to the following features when they board an A350 jet:
| S. No. | Upgrades |
| 1 | Chinaware |
| 2 | Tableware |
| 3 | Glassware |
| 4 | Bedding |
| 5 | Amity kits |
Air India crew will be attired in new livery designed by fashion designer Manish Malhotra. Business class passengers will have new duvets, pillows and mattress covers in their private cabins. Bone china embossed with mandala designs is a signature feature of the Business Class crockery.
The Business Class glassware has been sourced from Slovakia, which is devoid of lead or other toxins. Passengers will find shakers for salt and pepper in an Indian-style tiffin box embossed and chinaware embossed with the legacy Maharaja logo. The food area will feature a menu with Indian and intercontinental offerings. A bar area has been installed at the junction between the Business Class and Premium Economy cabins, according to Air India.
The airline claims to offer over 3,000 hours of in-flight content with over 300 Indian movie titles and 100 hours of content for children. Other features include an onboard WiFi rollout soon. Passengers will be able to fly long haul flights to the US aboard the Airbus A-350 over the coming months with a full rollout by March 2025, according to Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Air India.
Air India legacy troubles
The airline has faced several hiccups along the way from IT to catering. The airline spent its first year effecting bare minimum changes which were necessary to make it seem like it is capable of meeting passengers’ expectations, said Dogra. The company has undertaken an IT systems overhaul and worked with F&B partners to revamp its menu in line with international standards, he added.
The airline also faced challenges on account of legacy jets inherited from the previous dispensation. This has led to vocal criticism by travellers on social media about the rundown state of the legacy aircraft. Air India has faced challenges in terms of sourcing spare parts for these jets. However, retrofitting has commenced for these jets, the airline added.
The airline plans to have retrofitted 90 per cent of its legacy narrowbody jets by mid-2025, said Dogra. Wodebody retrofitting will start by mid-next year, he said.
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