Air India plans to enhance the appeal of its upcoming Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777X aircraft by introducing a revamped first class experience.
As part of the upgrade to its current 777-300 fleet, the airline will finally bring in first class and business class suites. Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal revealed that the new jets will feature completely redesigned first class suites. “Many of the largest airlines globally are developing next-generation first-class products, and Air India aims to compete by providing a superior offering,” Aggarwal stated during a press briefing.
The first jets equipped with these new suites are set to operate on ‘mega-city’ routes to destinations such as Singapore, London, and New York. Aggarwal expressed confidence in strong demand from high-net-worth individuals looking for an alternative to private jets on long-haul flights from Delhi. “Even if you own a private jet, you can’t fly nonstop to the US from India. However, with our first-class product, you can fly directly.”
Though the initial deliveries of Air India’s A350-1000 and Boeing 777-9 aircraft are still a few years away, the configuration of the new jets is expected to be more ‘premium-heavy’ for both first class and business class cabins, unlike the updated 777s, which will have four first class and 35 business class suites.
Air India is not the only airline recognizing the value of investing in first class; British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Qantas are all introducing entirely new first class suites as well.
