Air India Delays New Cabin Refurbishments on Boeing 777s and 787s by Next Year

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GURUGRAM- In December 2022, Air India (AI) unveiled a $400 million initiative to completely revamp its aging Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, equipping them with state-of-the-art seats and a new in-flight entertainment system. However, the project has been postponed until next year.

As a result, passengers anticipating an enhanced in-flight experience on Air India’s long-haul flights to Australia, Europe, and North America will have to wait longer.

Air India Cabin Refurbishment

A Hindu Businessline source says, “There are some certification-related issues.” Originally, the plan was for the first 40 aircraft (comprising 27 787s and 13 777s) to undergo cabin refurbishment in August, with the remainder following suit in the subsequent months. However, it has now been revealed that the actual refurbishment work on the Boeing widebody aircraft will commence next year.

Looking at the bright side, the reconfiguration of Air India’s narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft, transitioning from a dual-class to a three-class setup (business, premium economy, and economy), is set to kick off later this year.

This move will streamline product offerings between the two airlines, particularly as Vistara (UK) already operates three-class Airbus aircraft, aligning with the impending merger.

New Widebody Fleet

Air India has already welcomed four new Airbus A350 aircraft into its fleet. Additionally, it operates eleven leased Boeing 777 aircraft (formerly from Delta and Etihad), which boast enhanced amenities on select long-haul routes.

However, the delay in introducing newer generation products to its existing aircraft fleet is a setback. While Air India introduced its first Boeing 777 aircraft in 2007, the Boeing 787 was added to its fleet in 2012.

The airline has expanded its long-haul network in recent years, with the Mumbai-Melbourne service being the most recent addition to its routes. However, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has constrained the expansion of US airlines into India.

Despite these developments, Air India’s in-flight product on its legacy aircraft still falls short compared to its competitors. Common complaints include broken seats and non-functional in-flight entertainment systems.

To address these issues, the airline’s engineering team has collaborated with Tata Technologies to manufacture small parts, panels, and assemblies. Although repairs are being regularly carried out, the problems have not been fully resolved.

Critical Need for Revamp

“Upgrades to aircraft cabins are often necessary due to either obsolescence or wear and tear,” explained an aviation expert.

“A complete cabin refurbishment is a complex undertaking, akin to completely redesigning the cabin architecture. While airlines aim to enhance passenger comfort through cabin refurbishments, it’s crucial to ensure that these modifications don’t compromise the safety, fuel efficiency, and overall performance of the aircraft, particularly its stability.”

Typically, the approval process for a refurbishment project involves two stages. Firstly, products such as seats must undergo certification, unless they have been pre-approved, to ensure they can withstand extreme stress, such as that caused by accidents. Subsequently, regulatory approvals are required to install and assemble these certified components.

The precise reason for the delay in certification for Air India’s aircraft remains unclear.

Air India plans to introduce premium economy cabins on its Boeing aircraft as part of the upgrade. Additionally, the first-class cabin will be retained on the 777s.

Air India has enlisted the expertise of leading London-based product design firms, JPA Design and Trendworks, to assist with the cabin interior design aspects of this refurbishment program, as previously announced.

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