Air India is in the middle of a massive transformation, as the airline has been privatized. Air India is planning major changes to the passenger experience, as the airline has ordered 470 new jets, and also plans to refresh the interiors of existing wide body aircraft.
In addition to that, we’ve seen Air India lease some used aircraft, both to add short term capacity, and also to improve the passenger experience.
The most immediate plan is that Air India is leasing 14 Boeing 777s that used to fly for other airlines. This includes five former Delta Boeing 777-200LRs, three former Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ERs, and now six former Etihad Boeing 777-300ERs. The first former Etihad Boeing 777 has just touched down in India ahead of entry into service, so I wanted to go over the details.
In this post:
Air India getting six Etihad Airways Boeing 777s
Air India is adding a total of six former Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ERs to its fleet. The first of these aircraft just touched down in Delhi, and has the registration code VT-AER. This plane is still quite new — it was only delivered to Etihad in 2013, and then was stored in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. It’s now joining Air India’s fleet at just 10 years old.
The remaining five jets should join Air India’s fleet in the coming months, before the end of the year. The plane already features a modified version of Air India’s livery. Meanwhile you can expect that the interiors will remain largely unchanged, perhaps with the exception of some minor cosmetic updates.
The interiors of former Etihad Boeing 777s
What can passengers traveling with Air India look forward to onboard these former Etihad Airways jets? These former Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ERs feature a total of 328 seats, including:
- Eight first class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration
- 40 business class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration
- 280 economy class seats, in a 3-4-3 configuration
Suffice it to say that this should represent a massive product improvement for premium passengers. For one, this will be the first time that Air India has doors on its first class suites. While first class on these planes isn’t cutting edge…
…it should represent quite an improvement over Air India’s previous Boeing 777 first class.
In business class, these planes have staggered fully flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration…
…which compares quite favorably to Air India’s standard angled seats in business class in a 2-3-2 configuration.
In fairness, this Etihad product isn’t quite as good as the business class you’ll find on the former Delta Boeing 777-200LRs, which feature business class suites with doors.
It’s also not quite as good as the business class you’ll find on the former Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ERs.
Bottom line
Air India is in the process of adding six former Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ERs to its fleet, in order to boost short term capacity.
These planes will mark the first time that Air India has first class suites with doors on any aircraft. Furthermore, this will represent a nice upgrade compared to Air India’s standard 777 business class, though don’t expect it to be as nice as what you’d find on former Delta and Singapore Airlines aircraft.
What do you make of Air India leasing former Etihad Airways Boeing 777s?
Maintaining the different types of passenger seats will be a challenge. For example the Etihad aircraft first class seats have several actuators that gives the required comfort and position. You need a lot of spare parts to maintain these. However, the travelling locals who will enjoy the comfort the ex Etihad aircraft will offer.
I think a big problem for the airline going forward will be the inconsistencies between jets. The Etihad planes are nicer than some and Delta ones are nicer than others but not as good as Etihad. Personally I like the 1-2-1 set up.
The angled seats in business class is not practical nor comfortable i have flown many airlines and find a lot of wasted space with narrow seats n feel cramped compared to 2 x 2 x 2 seats which served passengers for so many years.the concept of single aisle seats has cramped in seats and increased prices..The old concept gave more spacious feeling ..
While they say that Rich are getting more rich and poor are getting more poor, the Etihad 777 justifies it.
The First and Biz class are upgraded on these aircrafts while the cattle class is down graded . AI has 3-3-3 on their own equipments and Etihad have 3-4-3 ....
Why it took that much long time to lease some planes. Government privatized Air India more than a year ago. They should have leased atleast 30 Boeing 777 300 when they got privatized. The 470 planes order they placed will take atleast 2 years to get delivered some of the planes.
Will one of them be deployed in the Toronto -Delhi sector
This month AI will introduce a new livery and brand, designed by Futurebrand who also redesigned AA ten years ago. Word has it that it will have the red from AI’s current livery and the purple from Vistara. It won’t be long before we see that on the ex-Etihad and ex-SQ 777s, and when Aeroflot’s NTU A350s arrive in November, they will feature the new colours from the get-go.
I really wonder how a mixture of red and purple will look on a livery. That's a very unique color scheme that I'm not sure any other airline has. But I'm really excited to see the new AI livery and branding. The current one is too outdated.
What is the obsession with business class seats with doors? The few times I have had them it did not really change my life and I would never pick a plane on that alone lol.
All these aircraft may prove worse in economy where AI always offered generous pitch and space.
Are you sure these EY 777-300ER feature First class? I thought the last 777 to feature First is used exclusively on AUH-CDG.
These planes no longer fly for Etihad.
I know steerage isn't a priority for discussion, but are the ex-DL planes still in 3-3-3 (as contrasted with the 3-4-3 of ex-EY)?
DL planes are 1-2-1
They're 1-2-1 in J, yes. I wasn't asking about J.
I think all DL 772s had 3-3-3 in economy.
How many of their own 777s will they have left after all of those leased ones start operating for AI?
AI has 13,777-300, 5,777-200 total 18