Air India is undergoing a transformation at the moment, after being privatized. The airline is investing hugely in modernizing its fleet and improving the passenger experience. This includes ordering 470 new aircraft, introducing new cabins, and completely rebranding.
As you’d expect, the challenge is that there’s a massive difference between what Air India is promising in the future, and what the airline is currently offering. After all, you can’t reinvent an airline overnight. So I at least appreciate this latest initiative from Air India, which provides some level of consistency to the United States.
In this post:
Air India only flying leased 777s from Mumbai to United States
Air India is leasing quite a few aircraft at the moment, both in order to increase capacity, plus to introduce an improved product. When it comes to wide bodies, the airline is leasing former Delta Boeing 777-200LRs, former Etihad Boeing 777-300ERs, and former Singapore Airlines 777-300ERs.
Effective immediately (as of the winter 2023/2024 schedule), the airline is exclusively flying these leased Boeing 777s on its three routes from Mumbai to the United States. Specifically:
- Air India is flying leased former Delta Boeing 777-200LRs on its route from Mumbai (BOM) to New York (JFK)
- Air India is flying leased former Delta Boeing 777-200LRS on its route from Mumbai (BOM) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Air India is flying leased former Etihad Boeing 777-300ERs on its route from Mumbai (BOM) to Newark (EWR)
Note that at least for the time being, these updated aircraft are only consistently being flown on flights out of Mumbai to the United States, and not on flights from Delhi to the United States.
What can passenger expected on leased Boeing 777s?
If you’re scheduled to fly Air India between Mumbai and the United States, what should you expect? Honestly, in economy it’s probably not much of an improvement, since Air India’s own Boeing 777s are quite comfortable in economy, with a 3-3-3 layout (even if the tech and cabin condition leaves a lot to be desired). Rather, it’s premium cabin passengers who will most notice the difference.
Air India has historically flown its own 777s between Mumbai and the United States, featuring business class seats that are angled and in a 2-3-2 configuration.
On the former Delta 777s (flying to New York and San Francisco), you can expect fully flat business class seats with doors, featuring direct aisle access. This is currently the best business class product you’ll find in Air India’s entire fleet.
What’s also unique about these jets is that they feature a premium economy cabin, which Air India hasn’t historically offered, but is in the process of rolling out.
On the former Etihad 777s (flying to Newark), you can expect fully flat business class seats that are staggered. This is far from my favorite business class hard product out there, but it’s still much better than Air India’s old product.
What’s also cool is that that these planes feature first class, consisting of suites with doors, so this is Air India’s best first class product yet.
This compares favorably to Air India’s legacy first class product, where the seats don’t have as much privacy.
All-in-all, premium passengers traveling on Air India between Mumbai and the United States can look forward to a significantly improved experience.
Bottom line
Air India has upgraded its premium travel experience between Mumbai and the United States, as the airline is now consistently flying former Delta and Etihad Boeing 777s on these routes. It might be time to finally give Air India another try, as I sure am intrigued to see what the carrier’s soft product is like nowadays.
What do you make of Air India’s improvements on flights to the United States?
They should start Mumbai to DC route soon, sure it will be one of the most popular and profitable one!
What about people travelling to sfo from Delhi in old aircrafts
New renovations on aircraft is good. But more education and awareness plus discipline must be taught to Indian passengers, staff and crew. Especially being courteous and respectful to others and use the toilets properly and keep it clean. Hygiene is also another concern. If all these are above average then AI will compete with 4 star & 5 star airlines. Good Attitude is a must !
I recently flew from Mumbai to New York on Air India's newly leased 777 October 25th to be exact. Although the seats were quite comfortable and spacious, the attitudes of the air hostess was not welcoming. Although they say namaste at the door when you enter, once on board the pleasent smile disappers and the nasty attitude kicks in. They are rude and appeared annoyed to provide service when needed. I actually called for service...
I recently flew from Mumbai to New York on Air India's newly leased 777 October 25th to be exact. Although the seats were quite comfortable and spacious, the attitudes of the air hostess was not welcoming. Although they say namaste at the door when you enter, once on board the pleasent smile disappers and the nasty attitude kicks in. They are rude and appeared annoyed to provide service when needed. I actually called for service several times using the call button and no one came to my seat. This kind of nasty behaviour by flight attendents will actually turn off passengers no matter how posh and comfortable your new planes would be.
That’s what the main issue with Indians on AI staff or crew that’s Indian style. They are rude, annoyed, selfish, attitude issues, careless, no concern, not courteous, not friendly, not cooperative. Other side Indian passengers also give problems to the staff and crew, Anove all the Indians have so much pride and ego. It all adds to create an unpleasant travel. Hope new ownership will rectify these issues along with aircraft renovation which is commonly...
That’s what the main issue with Indians on AI staff or crew that’s Indian style. They are rude, annoyed, selfish, attitude issues, careless, no concern, not courteous, not friendly, not cooperative. Other side Indian passengers also give problems to the staff and crew, Anove all the Indians have so much pride and ego. It all adds to create an unpleasant travel. Hope new ownership will rectify these issues along with aircraft renovation which is commonly known as attitude problem.
Any advice for how to book Air India premium economy from JFK/EWR to Male? Tried both direct on their site and via google flights to Air India, but does not go through.
Call them. They have a 1-800 number.
Air india has come a long way. Only airline “allowed” to fly over Russia (far away from the conflict zone) which saves me 2 hours for my connections. Been taking them for business lately and they have been so much better. The ones who complain, will always complain. But I feel they have become really good lately. thier sister airline (vistara) is also better and the 14th best airline in the world. For the price...
Air india has come a long way. Only airline “allowed” to fly over Russia (far away from the conflict zone) which saves me 2 hours for my connections. Been taking them for business lately and they have been so much better. The ones who complain, will always complain. But I feel they have become really good lately. thier sister airline (vistara) is also better and the 14th best airline in the world. For the price air india offers it’s tickets, don’t expect fireworks. But overall, I will give them a good 7.9 for the quality of food, staff and peace of mind for my connections.
Air India flies over Russia. Good reason not to take them.
Why ?
The weekly direct from Hyderabad to Chicago to be restored and also new weekly flights are required for Hyderabad to new York or New Jersey, Hyderabad to San Francisco
It will help the parents who is visiting their children and also for the young parents who are traveling with young children
Air India is a terrible airline and has a very long way to go in its nascent efforts to reinvent itself.
Yes, not helpful.
AI is doing a great job with upgrading aircraft, service, and getting rid of bad "apples" TERRIBLE employees! Indians are very lovely people overall, and I am rooting for AI to succeed.
Having flown Vistara many times, I believe its possible.
Terrible employees? The most visible change after the Tata takeover IS the quality of crew. Their attitude toward customers in general has improved significantly over recent years, if not many outdated planes still flying around.
They are lovely people who support Russia!!
They seem to be nice people but they are selfish at their core.
Over time I would expect non stops from Chennai and Hyderabad at least to SFO. Whilst the one stop routes will for the foreseeable future offer better service etc non stop has its own advantages that will likely offset.
Air India is unlikely to get any business from the Southern city of Chennai. No one wants to transit in Delhi or Mumbai to the USA especially when you can fly any of the gulf airlines.. Cathay or Singapore. Much rather transit at those airports. If they hope to take any business from the other long haul airlines you the USA they can't ignore one of the largest IT and Manufacturing hubs of India. The...
Air India is unlikely to get any business from the Southern city of Chennai. No one wants to transit in Delhi or Mumbai to the USA especially when you can fly any of the gulf airlines.. Cathay or Singapore. Much rather transit at those airports. If they hope to take any business from the other long haul airlines you the USA they can't ignore one of the largest IT and Manufacturing hubs of India. The Delhi centric mentality needs to change. The connection time is also bad from the other airports to DEL.
it more about the aircraft range and hub and spoke concept for Air India to run flights from DEL and BOM. I am myself from HYD and praying for HYD-DFW non-stop for years. Hopefully things will change in future and see some point to point flights to USA.
You sound like one of them people who wants the world to connect to their cities airport. A lot of us have that temptation. But the distance and demand ensure that MAA does not make sense.
Now you can choose whoever you want to patronize. Your choice. But in this day and age I would prefer my stops to be either in the origin or destination country to eliminate the variable of having to deal...
You sound like one of them people who wants the world to connect to their cities airport. A lot of us have that temptation. But the distance and demand ensure that MAA does not make sense.
Now you can choose whoever you want to patronize. Your choice. But in this day and age I would prefer my stops to be either in the origin or destination country to eliminate the variable of having to deal with the rules and regulstions of a 3rd country. For example during the pandemic if you had a flight via HKG, all you would have to show for your journey is a travel voucher while you were still at your origin city.
Chennai airport is a dump (yes, even the new terminal) in comparison to Mumbai or Delhi (or Hyderabad or Bengaluru). The facility may be new but the AAI sarkari babu mentality makes the airport a nightmare from user experience perspective. When that changes, the airport may become viable as a hub for the South and maybe even SE Asia. Until then, Chennai is a backwater barely one step above Kolkata on the aviation ladder.
Yes
The direct flights from southern states to USA is required now with so many are in USA
@Ben - AI apparently also just announced a new route from BOS to BOM. And while unrelated tO US, they also announced the first ever BOM to MEL nonstop. Exciting time to be flying long haul out of Mumbai, a long time undeserved hub with a huge catchment of O&D traffic to global hubs.
@ Sarthak -- Do you have a link to the Boston announcement? I know it was being considered, but didn't see it announced. Thanks!
Its more of an announcement that they are exploring new routes (LAX and BOS) non-stop from India once they start getting A350's
They didn't announce it. Social media had some ads recently that seemed to be AI generated and linked random city pairs in the US and India (BOS/LAX/DFW/IAH to BOM/DEL/CCU/HYD/BLR/AMD/COK). Of course, Indian aviation twitter went bonkers in excitement but they are calming down now.
Last week, a friend flew SFO-BLR and was pleasantly surprised by the 1-2-1 configuration in J. Judging by the upholstery from their photos, it appears to be ex-DL aircraft on the BLR fight too.
The Etihad colors are awful. Avocado upholstery?
Unfortunately it's still very much an inferior product to what American Airlines flies into India!
No its not.
The ex-DL product is phenomenal. I was on a SFO-BLR flight in J. Comfortable pajamas, pretty nice TUMI amenity kit, great food and drinks, phenomenal service (something i have not experienced in a long, long time), plus saved me almost 10 hours round trip in journey time over the one stop alternative with QR.
Definitely fly them again.