Air India unveils plans for retrofitted long-haul cabins for service
Air India is seeking to revamp its reputation with a new brand identity, new livery and onboard passenger experience
Air India, a Tata Group-owned airline, has unveiled the latest efforts under its Vihaan.AI transformation which include significant investments throughout the guest experience to elevate its service.
A US$400 million program to completely refurbish the interiors of its legacy fleet of 43 widebody Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will begin in mid-2024, which will lead to the installation of brand-new seats in every cabin, new inflight entertainment systems, and inflight Wi-Fi internet connectivity. By March 2024, 33% of the airline’s widebody fleet will be upgraded, and over the next two-and-a-half years, its entire long-haul fleet will be reborn.
Highlights include wireless charging, lie-flay beds and privacy panels in First Class, Business Class featuring sliding door panels and a brand-new Economy Class.
No details of suppliers or partners have been disclosed.
The sneak peek into the cabins accompanied the unveiling of a new brand identity and new aircraft livery, as the airline seeks to banish its previous reputation for dirty cabins and broken onboard facilities.
“Our transformative new brand reflects an ambition to make Air India a world-class airline serving guests from around the globe, and that represents a new India proudly on the global stage,” commented Campbell Wilson, Air India CEO & MD in a recent press release.
“The new Air India is bold, confident, and vibrant, but also warm and deeply rooted to its rich history and traditions that make Indian hospitality a global benchmark for standards in service.”
Designed in partnership with the brand transformation company, FutureBrand, the iconic new brand identity combines Air India’s past with its drive to aim for excellence and innovate for the future, creating a standout brand design for a premium global airline with an Indian heart.
Passengers will begin to see the new logo from December 2023, when Air India’s first Airbus A350 enters the fleet in the new livery.
“Colours, patterns, shapes and how they come together and what they represent matter, but our actions speak so much louder. We are in the midst of a total transformation to reimagine the role of India’s flagship airline”, Wilson said.
The new look reimagines the iconic Indian window shape, historically used by Air India, into a gold window frame that becomes central to the new brand design system - symbolizing a "Window of Possibilities".
Air India’s new logo symbol — The Vista — is inspired by the peak of the gold window frame, signifying limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and the airline’s bold, confident outlook for the future.
Air India’s brand-new aircraft livery and design features a palette of deep red, aubergine, and gold highlights, as well as a chakra-inspired pattern. It also boasts a striking new custom-made ‘Air India Sans’ font, marrying confidence with warmth to position Air India as premium, inclusive, and accessible.
The airline is making significant investments throughout the guest experience to elevate its service.
A US$400 million program to completely refurbish the interiors of its legacy fleet of 43 widebody aircraft commences mid-2024, which will lead to the installation of brand-new seats in every cabin, new inflight entertainment systems, and inflight Wi-Fi internet connectivity. By March 2024, 33 percent of the airline's widebody fleet will be upgraded, and over the next two-and-a-half years, its entire long-haul fleet will be reborn.
