MUMBAI: For passengers, it is the cabin interiors that talk the loudest concerning the age and maintenance of an airplane and this is the reason Air India has been on the receiving finish of passengers’ ire relating to seats, inflight leisure and so on on its legacy extensive -body fleet.
The airline, which moved from executive to non-public possession previous this 12 months, introduced Thursday that it has already began refurbishing its complete legacy wide-body fleet, comprising 27 Boeing B787-8 and 13 B777 airplane, committing over $400m to the mission. In the method, Air India may even introduce top rate financial system elegance cabins on each those fleets. The first refurbished airplane will input provider in mid-2024.
“This refurbishment will see a complete overhaul of existing cabin interiors, including the addition of latest generation seats and best inflight entertainment across all classes. The first class cabin will also be retained on the 777s,” mentioned the airline. Air India has engaged London-based product design firms, JPA Design and Trendworks, to help with the cabin internal design parts of this refurbishment programme.
“The collaboration brings together two experts in the fields of aviation and interiors that have produced designs for major brands including Taj Hotels, The Orient Express and Herman Miller International,” it mentioned. “The complete interior refurbishment entails significant regulatory and engineering preparation, which commenced earlier this year. This lengthy but necessary process, and the time required to manufacture seats, is expected to lead to the first aircraft entering service in mid-2024,” it mentioned. .
Campbell Wilson, MD and CEO, Air India mentioned: “We know that, at the moment, the cabin product on our 40 legacy widebody airplane falls wanting this usual. Although the mission commenced some months in the past, we’re thrilled to now publicly announce this crucial funding on an entire internal refit, and we’re assured that, when published, the brand new interiors will pleasure consumers and display Air India in a brand new mild. within the interim, leasing in a minimum of 11 new widebody airplane with emblem new interiors to make stronger our providing on the earliest alternative.”
The airline, which moved from executive to non-public possession previous this 12 months, introduced Thursday that it has already began refurbishing its complete legacy wide-body fleet, comprising 27 Boeing B787-8 and 13 B777 airplane, committing over $400m to the mission. In the method, Air India may even introduce top rate financial system elegance cabins on each those fleets. The first refurbished airplane will input provider in mid-2024.
“This refurbishment will see a complete overhaul of existing cabin interiors, including the addition of latest generation seats and best inflight entertainment across all classes. The first class cabin will also be retained on the 777s,” mentioned the airline. Air India has engaged London-based product design firms, JPA Design and Trendworks, to help with the cabin internal design parts of this refurbishment programme.
“The collaboration brings together two experts in the fields of aviation and interiors that have produced designs for major brands including Taj Hotels, The Orient Express and Herman Miller International,” it mentioned. “The complete interior refurbishment entails significant regulatory and engineering preparation, which commenced earlier this year. This lengthy but necessary process, and the time required to manufacture seats, is expected to lead to the first aircraft entering service in mid-2024,” it mentioned. .
Campbell Wilson, MD and CEO, Air India mentioned: “We know that, at the moment, the cabin product on our 40 legacy widebody airplane falls wanting this usual. Although the mission commenced some months in the past, we’re thrilled to now publicly announce this crucial funding on an entire internal refit, and we’re assured that, when published, the brand new interiors will pleasure consumers and display Air India in a brand new mild. within the interim, leasing in a minimum of 11 new widebody airplane with emblem new interiors to make stronger our providing on the earliest alternative.”