Tata Group-owned Air India has announced it plans to refurbish its entire legacy wide body fleet, consisting of 27 Boeing B 787- 8 and 13 B 777 aircraft, and has a budget of $400 million for the project.
The addition of new generation seats and best in-class inflight entertainment across all classes will be part of the refurbishment of the existing cabin interiors. Both fleets will be able to add a Premium Economy cabin as part of the refurbishment. Air India has engaged leading London-based product design companies, JPA Design and Trendworks to assist with the cabin interior design elements of the refurbishment programme. The collaboration brings together two experts in the fields of aviation and interiors that have produced designs for major brands, including Taj Hotels, The Orient Express and Herman Miller International.
With this investment, Air India is committed to providing passengers with a comfortable, modern, and technologically advanced cabin that is comparable to the best airlines in the world.
The complete interior refurbishment involves significant regulatory and engineering preparation, which began earlier this year.
Campbell Wilson, MD CEO, Air India said: Under our Vihaan. Air India has committed to the highest standards of product and service for a world-class airline, as part of Air India's AI transformation program. The cabin product on our 40 legacy widebody aircraft currently falls short of this standard. Although the project began a few months ago, we are delighted to announce this significant investment on a complete interior refit, and we are confident that the new interiors will show Air India in a new light. At the earliest opportunity, we are working closely with partners to speed up the refit process and lease 11 new widebody aircraft with brand new interiors. Air India is going to lease 12 more aircraft including a 320 neo and a Boeing 777. These new aircraft are expected to be introduced into its existing fleet in the first half of 2023.
Air India said in a statement that these new planes will be deployed on the airline's short, medium and long-haul international routes. It has leased 42 aircraft since it was privatised in January of this year.
Of the 12 new leased planes, six are wide-body Boeing 777 300 ER, while the remaining six are narrow-body Airbus A 320 neo, it added. The airline's domestic and short-to-mid-to-medie haul international routes will be operated on the A 320 neo.