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Air India To Invest $400 Mn In Makeover Of Its 40 Wide-body Aircraft
According to the airline, the refurbishment would include a complete overhaul of existing cabin interiors, including the addition of latest-generation seats and best-in-class in-flight entertainment across all classes
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Air India announced on Thursday that it plans to invest USD 400 million in refurbishing its legacy wide-body fleet, which includes 27 Boeing B787-8 and 13 B777 aircraft.
According to the airline, the refurbishment would include a complete overhaul of existing cabin interiors, including the addition of latest-generation seats and best-in-class in-flight entertainment across all classes.
Furthermore, the refurbishment will include the addition of a premium economy cabin on both fleets, as well as the retention of the first-class cabin on the 777s.
JPA Design and Trendworks, both based in London, have been hired by the airline to assist with the cabin interior design elements of this refurbishment program.
In October of last year, Tata Group successfully bid for Air India at the cost of Rs 18,000 crore. Since then, Air India made many many changes in the airline working environment and hired new crew members.
In his first address to Air India employees, group chairman N. Chandrasekaran said that he has big plans for the airline. “We are completely committed to making Air India the world-class airline that it deserves to be, we will do that by focusing on specific areas where we want to be absolutely best in class,” he added.
Air India also plans to triple its fleet size and increase its domestic and international market share to 30 per cent in five years, according to CEO Campbell Wilson.
The company currently operates 113 aircraft. AirAsia India (28 planes), Vistara (53 planes), and Air India Express (24 planes) are also part of the group, bringing the total fleet size to 218. Both of these are run through joint ventures. After merging all under a single brand, Air India will have approximately more than 200 aircraft in its fleet size.
According to Air India, the airline will lease 25 Airbus narrow-body planes and five Boeing wide-body planes, including 21 Airbus A320neos and four A321neos and five Boeing B777-200LRs which will go into service in late 2022.