Formerly, under JRD's leadership, Air India Travelers knew that Tata was a pleasure to fly in, with luxurious cabins and the best in-flight amenities available. However, the majority of customers nowadays are only aware of this peak of Air India's service quality because they were accustomed to a product that represented the carrier's problems—severe financial crisis, overbearing government intervention, and inefficiencies that plague many public sector businesses. An iconic feature of India's flag carrier were dilapidated aircraft in disrepair. Air India, which was privatized and is now a part of Tata, wants to regain the renown it had held for many years.
On Monday, the airline will begin operating its brand-new Airbus A350-900. The aircraft, which is also the nation's first A350, was formally unveiled on Thursday at Wings India 2024 in Hyderabad. Before moving to international medium- and long-haul routes by the middle of 2024, the aircraft will first be used for crew familiarization flights on domestic routes for a few months. Air India aims to usher in a new era characterized by top-notch offerings and an unparalleled traveller experience with this aircraft. A $400 million comprehensive interior refurbishment of the carrier's historic wide-body fleet, many of which are in dire need of modernization, will also get underway when the A350 enters service on international routes.
The A350 is a "game-changer" for Air India, according to Campbell Wilson, the airline's chief executive officer and managing director. Wilson added that fleet and product upgrades are a "key pillar" in Air India's action plan to become an airline of international renown. "It will not only elevate our passenger experience but also open up new routes and opportunities for expansion," Wilson said.
Many travelers seeking luxurious long- and ultra-long-haul travel from and to India have turned to cash-rich Gulf-based carriers that offer first-rate services on board contemporary aircraft in recent years. As the only Indian airline that genuinely provides these kinds of transcontinental trips, Air India is trying to draw customers away from Gulf carriers with its new design. The airline aims to challenge Middle Eastern heavyweights such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways, partly through its network expansion and fleet modernization plans.
