Air India revolution: here is the new business suite on the A350-900

Air India has taken the first step toward a momentous change, announced during 2023, that will redefine the entire travel experience and characteristics of the Asian airline.

A real change of course "christened" with the arrival of the on December 23 of the first A350-900 equipped with the new interiors and especially the Business Class suites, Among the most anticipated of 2024.

Air India's renewal

In fact, as mentioned in the past months, Air India has initiated a $400 million project to upgrade its 43 long-range aircraft which completes a maxi order of 470 new aircraft: 190 737MAX, 20 787 and 10 777X with Boeing; 210 A320neo and 40 A350 with Airbus.

Indian company, privatized in 2022, thus demonstrates all its ambitions for the future and with this act aims to dominate the world's skies for the next 50 years. Ambitions that have also seen a recent rebranding with a new logo and livery and also aim to reverse a "bad reputation" that has accompanied the carrier over the years. 

Just the newly arrived A350-900 is the first aircraft to usher in this new phase, bringing with it all hallmarks Of the renovation: livery, logo and booths. 

Tata Group, the new private parent company of Air India, is trying to position the airline as a leading global carrier, but it faces growing competition from Middle Eastern carriers, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, which already have an extensive network to the Indian subcontinent.

In fact, alongside these innovations, the airline's new top management also intends to completely change the experience in lounges and on board and has already prepared a revamped route network that includes expansion to North America and Europe, as well as the recent launch of direct flights to Melbourne, in Australia.

The new A350-900

Thus, on Dec. 23, 2023, Air India's first Airbus A350. landed at Delhi airport., registered as VT-JRA, and has been given a special call sign: AI350. Its first official flight is scheduled for Jan. 22 between Bangalore Kempegowda International Airport and Mumbai International Airport.

Accordingly, the company has unveiled the first images of its interior. The plane offers a cabin configuration of three classes with 316 seats: 28 Business class suites with full-flat beds, 24 Premium Economy seats with extra legroom, and 264 Economy seats.

With the new widebody aircraft being delivered, Air India is divesting 2+2+2 or even 2+3+2 Business configurations in favor of a homogeneous layout 1+2+1, which allows all passengers access to the corridor.

On the new A350s, the company has chosen. 28 Collins Aerospace Horizon seats equipped with sliding doors and personal wardrobe. Each will have a seat 56 centimeters wide and can be transformed into a bed 198 centimeters long. One 21-inch HD screen completes the equipment.

Early feedback on the new cabins is very positive, especially Air India's decision to equip the Suites with fully lockable privacy-proof doors. Premium has also met with approval from customers, experts and analysts. The biggest doubts, however, are Refer to color matching in Business that seem unharmonious and difficult "to digest" from an aesthetic point of view.

The ultimate test, however, will be ground and in-flight service. Having done the redesign of aircraft and interiors, now the real breakthrough for Air India is to proving to achieve travel quality and comfort which have been among the company's major weaknesses so far. Especially if it wants to go from "a company that makes Indians travel" to a "leading global carrier for international travelers."