Tata Group-owed Air India received its first narrow body aircraft at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi today in new livery and said that its addition marks a significant milestone in its transformation journey.
The Airbus A320 Neo, registered as VT-RTN, arrived in Delhi, having flown from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France.
The new aircraft boasts a three-class configuration, including luxurious business class seats, 24 premium economy seats with extra legroom, and 132 comfortable economy class seats.
With this, it is the first time Air India is offering premium economy on its narrow-body aircraft. The A320 Neo is slated to enter service in August 2024, primarily operating on domestic short-haul routes.
Three A320 Neo aircraft with three-class configurations in the old Air India livery are already operating within the domestic network. Beginning early next year, Air India aims to enhance the flying experience for its guests by deploying new, upgraded, and refurbished aircraft across both its narrow-body and wide-body fleets.
The airline is currently undergoing a significant five-year transformation under the Vihaan.AI initiative, aiming to become a world-class airline with an Indian heart. The first phase of this transformation, known as the Taxi phase, recently concluded.
After 69 years as a government-owned enterprise, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express were reintegrated into the Tata Group in January 2022.
(WIth PTI inputs)