·
Completely new cabin interiors styled
exclusively for Air India
·
Headphone pairing capability via Bluetooth available
in seats across all cabins
·
Introducing wireless charging pads and more
in Business Class suites
·
New
onboard mood lighting inspired by ancient Indian wellness traditions
HYDERABAD : Air India today unveiled the custom-styled cabin interiors
of its first line-fit (made-for-Air India) Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Bearing
registration mark VT-AWA, the new aircraft features completely new cabin
interiors, designed especially for Air India and installed directly on Boeing's
production line.
Air
India received delivery of the new aircraft on 11 January 2026, arriving in
Delhi non-stop from Boeing’s factory in Everett, Washington. The aircraft is
entering commercial service on flights between Mumbai and Frankfurt from 1
February 2026.
Campbell
Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “The arrival of this
new Boeing 787-9, the first production widebody from the 470 aircraft-strong order
signed three years ago, is a significant moment in Air India’s 5-year Vihaan.AI
transformation programme. Though nearly 100 new and leased aircraft have already
joined the Air India group’s fleet since privatisation, this is the first to be
designed by and for Air India. It underscores Air India's commitment to delivering
a world-class physical product and inflight entertainment experience to
complement the warm Indian hospitality already delivered by our crew.”
“The
new cabin interiors on this aircraft will soon become the standard across our
entire Boeing 787 fleet as, in addition to 19 more production aircraft, all 26
of Air India’s existing Boeing 787-8 aircraft are being retrofitted with the
same new cabin interiors and entertainment systems. The retrofit programme is
well underway, with the first upgraded aircraft due to return to service in the
coming weeks and the remainder of the fleet by mid-2027.”
All-new
cabin interiors
Air
India’s new Boeing 787-9 aircraft comes with 296 seats distributed between three
cabin classes: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. The cabins feature
customised versions of the Elevate Ascent seat in Business Class and RECARO
PL3530 and CL3710 seats in Premium Economy and Economy Class, respectively. All
seats are equipped with Thales’ state-of-the-art AVANT Up inflight
entertainment (IFE) system.
The
Business Class cabin consists of 30 luxurious suites in a 1-2-1
configuration, offering direct aisle access to every guest. Each suite, featuring
a sliding privacy door1, reclines into a fully flat bed of 79 inches
in length or a chaise lounge, and offers 42” of pitch, 17-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen and IFE handset, Bluetooth
headphone pairing, wireless charging and Type A and Type C fast charging ports,
height-adjustable armrest, as well as plenty of storage. The suite also features
an attractive cubby area that offers storage space with soft lighting inside, a
vanity mirror and headphone hook, and a feature lamp designed with Air India’s jaali
pattern that is inspired by India’s rich architectural and cultural heritage.
Premium
Economy -
a dedicated, upscale cabin offering greater privacy - features 28 seats in a
2-3-2 configuration, designed for enhanced long-haul comfort. Each seat offers
generous legroom with 38-inch pitch and 7-inch recline, 6-way adjustable
headrest, individually adjustable calf rest as well as a leg rest, 13.3-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen, Type A and Type C fast charging
ports, and a bottle holder.
Economy Class features 238 lightweight
and ergonomically optimised seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, each offering the standard
31”/32” pitch and 5” recline, an 11.6-inch 4K QLED
HDR touchscreen, and Type A and C charging ports. Of the 238 seats in
Economy, Air India has made 220 seats available in its booking inventory for flights
operated with this new aircraft.
A
new design standard
Air
India has styled the interiors of the new B787-9 aircraft, including seats,
galleys, lavatories, flight crew rest area, side panels, laminates, etc. in
collaboration with JPA Design, a global multidisciplinary design studio, especially
to reflect Air India's revitalised global brand identity.
The
cabins feature a harmonious palette of soft creams, pinks, reds, warm golds,
and rich purples, complemented by tactile materials inspired by natural
textures and modern craftsmanship. This creates a sensorial experience of quiet
luxury, authenticity, and contemporary Indian identity, with refined detailing,
soft curves, warm lighting, improved stowage, and intuitive usability across
all classes.
Mood
lighting inspired by ancient Indian wellness traditions
On
board the new B787-9 aircraft, Air India has introduced a unique mood lighting
systems, developed in collaboration with Tata Elxsi. It draws inspiration from
India’s rich heritage in wellness and the ancient concept of chakras –
viewed in traditional philosophy as vital energy centres in the human body that
support physical, mental, and emotional balance. The new mood lighting offers
10 custom scenes designed to align with passengers’ circadian rhythms and aid
melatonin regulation, enhancing wellbeing on long-haul flights.
1Due to pending regulatory approval, the privacy
sliding door feature of the Business Class suites is currently unavailable for passenger
use. All other features of the suites remain fully functional.