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Editorial Disclosure
At long last, Air India is giving its existing fleet the overhaul it desperately needs.
The first wide-body jet to be retrofitted as part of the airline’s endlessly delayed $400 million refresh program — a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered VT-ANT — is finally back at its base in Delhi.
Before it took off on the nearly 19-hour journey from San Bernardino, California — where it was painted in the carrier’s striking new livery — I paid the jet a visit to see the upgrades for myself.
Spoiler alert: It’s a night-and-day difference from what the plane looked like before the retrofit.
If you end up flying this jet yourself, you’ll likely walk away just as impressed as I was, especially if you snag a seat in business class.
It’s just too bad the airline can’t install these new cabins overnight, because goodness knows the yet-to-be-retrofitted planes need them now.
Air India’s new business class
The biggest upgrade is in the pointy end of the plane.
Air India swapped its outdated 2-2-2 business-class cabin for 20 private suites arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone layout.
Every seat now offers direct aisle access — a massive improvement over the old configuration.
The center seats feature a fully retractable privacy divider, which will be especially appealing for couples traveling together.
Air India chose the popular Elevate Ascent seat (formerly marketed by Adient), which is the same product you’ll now find on American Airlines’ new premium 787-9s and United’s second-generation Polaris cabins.
Each suite offers a sliding privacy door and a long list of other upgrades, such as an enclosed storage cubby, sleek seat controls, and an adjustable armrest with built-in water-bottle storage.
On the tech front, every suite features a 17-inch 4K QLED TV with Bluetooth, a wireless charging pad, USB-A and USB-C ports, and a universal AC outlet.
There’s also a retractable entertainment remote if you prefer a physical controller.
Perhaps the biggest standout is the lighting. The jaali-inspired sconces set a luxurious tone from the moment you step onboard and nicely complement the warm gold, deep brown, and rich purple finishes throughout the cabin.
Each suite’s sliding door adds an extra layer of privacy when it’s time to stretch out on the 79-inch-long bed.
The tray table folds out from underneath the TV and measures 18 inches wide by 12 inches long.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed previous flights featuring the Elevate Ascent seat on American Airlines and Qatar Airways, so I’m especially looking forward to trying it on Air India soon.
I’ll just be sure to avoid row 5, since it’s missing windows.
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Air India’s new premium economy
For the first time, Air India’s 787-8 features a dedicated premium economy cabin.
There are 25 Recaro PL3530 recliners arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, offering 38 inches of pitch, seven inches of recline, a six-way adjustable headrest, and individual calf and leg rests.
I was especially impressed by just how much these seats recline. That said, I imagine it might be tricky for a window-seat passenger to get out when the seat in front is fully reclined.
In terms of tech, each 19-inch-wide recliner features a 13.3-inch 4K QLED TV with Bluetooth, plus USB-A and USB-C charging ports.
There are no AC power outlets in premium economy, which feels like the biggest miss in this cabin.
The bi-fold tray tables extend from the armrest and measure 16 inches long by 10 inches wide.
Air India’s new economy class
The economy cabin features 205 Recaro seats in a 3-3-3 layout.
Economy is split into two cabins separated by lavatories.
Seats offer 31 to 32 inches of pitch, five inches of recline, and an 11.6-inch 4K QLED touchscreen with Bluetooth.
Like premium economy, there are no AC outlets here, but you will find USB-A and USB-C charging ports built into the TV.
This looks like a modern coach product, though I’d still much rather be flying in one of the premium cabins.
The biggest surprise was the lack of an extra-legroom economy section.
Maybe Air India doesn’t expect strong demand for that type of product in the Indian point of sale, but most other major global airlines have found a way to make it work.
Beyond the seats, the jet also received a Panasonic satellite radome during the retrofit, enabling internet connectivity for the first time. (Just too bad Air India didn’t go with Starlink instead.)
Bottom line
Let’s be real: Air India’s legacy cabins were among the worst in long-haul travel.
Aside from the outdated seats, many of the cabins are literally falling apart after years of overuse and neglect.
Ever since the Tata Group acquired Air India, the airline has been investing heavily to turn the carrier into a serious contender once again.
The retrofit project has been plagued by delays, but based on what I saw, the wait is worth it. Air India is targeting completion of the entire 787-8 retrofit program by mid-2027.
That day can’t come soon enough.
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