We know that Air India is currently undergoing a major transformation, after being privatized. This includes ordering hundreds of new planes, and trying to greatly improve the passenger experience. As you might expect, this is no small project, both given the state of Air India’s legacy fleet, plus the general industry constraints (delays with aircraft deliveries, new seats, etc.).
There’s now an exciting update — around four years after being privatized, Air India has finally introduced its first new wide body aircraft with custom interiors. This also marks the launch of one of Air India’s new wide body business class products.
However, don’t expect much consistency when it comes to the quality of the carrier’s new business class, as the airline is reportedly planning to introduce three different long haul business class seats.
In this post:
Air India selects Elevate Ascent seat for Boeing 787s
Air India has selected the Elevate Ascent seat as its new Boeing 787 business class:
- This product is being retrofitted on all existing Boeing 787-8s, as that’s a project that’s now underway
- This product is being installed on newly delivered Boeing 787-9s, as the first of these has just joined the fleet
- The only Boeing 787s that won’t be getting these interiors are the ex-Vistara 787-9s, which are already in the fleet
The Elevate Ascent product is in a 1-2-1 configuration, with all seats having direct aisle access. This is a reverse herringbone product, with seats also boasting privacy doors. 787-8s will be configured with 20 business class seats, while 787-9s will be configured with 30 business class seats.
In terms of seat specifications, each seat will have 42″ of pitch, with seats reclining into 79″ flat beds. Seats will also have 17″ 4K QLED HDR touchscreens, IFE handsets, bluetooth audio pairing, wireless charging, USB-A and USB-C charging, a height adjustable armrest, and plenty of storage.
For context, the Elevate Ascent product is designed as part of a joint venture with Boeing, and is specifically intended for the 787. That’s why you’ll also find this seat on the newest Boeing 787-9s of Qatar Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, and American Airlines, and soon it’ll also be debuting on United Airlines.
What’s cool is that both retrofitted 787-8s and newly delivered 787-9s are joining the fleet around the same time, so we should see a good number of these planes flying over the coming year or so.
Air India plans two other new business class products
Air India’s wide body business class fleet renewal isn’t at all what we’ve been expecting. Keep in mind that back in 2023, Air India unveiled its planned new first & business class products, which were at least supposed to be retrofitted on Boeing 777s, and installed on newly delivered Airbus A350s.
The Star Alliance carrier had selected the Safran Unity product as its primary new business class seat, which is the same product you’ll find in Japan Airlines’ A350 business class, and I’d rank that as being among the best business class seats in the world.
However, since then, Air India has reportedly backtracked on these plans, as reported by Live from a Lounge. It’s not entirely clear why, but the airline no longer intends to introduce the Safran Unity product on any aircraft. Instead, the airline plans to introduce three different kinds of seats, with each fleet type getting a different product:
- As mentioned above, the Boeing 787s will get the Elevate Ascent product, which is a generic seat for the 787
- The retrofitted Boeing 777s are expected to get the Collins Aerospace Elevation, which are also reverse herringbone seats with doors
- The newly delivered Airbus A350s are expected to get the Recaro R7 product, which are staggered seats with doors
These are all fine products, though from a consistency standpoint, it’s bizarre to launch three new business class seats on three different aircraft types, especially when the goal is to elevate the passenger experience. Either way, all of these represent a significant improvement over the current state of things at Air India…
Bottom line
Air India has formally unveiled its new 787 business class, which will be the Elevate Ascent seat, just as you’ll find on American, Hawaiian, and Qatar. This is a reverse herringbone seat with a door, and it’ll be installed on newly delivered 787-9s, plus retrofitted 787-8s.
Air India seems to have totally backtracked on plans to introduce the Safran Unity product as its new “flagship” business class, as the airline now instead focuses on the Collins Aerospace Elevation seat for retrofitted 777s, and the Recaro R7 seat for newly delivered A350s.
What do you make of Air India’s new Dreamliner business class?
Ben, once the new Air India lounges in Delhi reopen, it may be time to review AI again.
India's changed a lot with the upper mid range travel options that your readers may enjoy:
- Centurion lounges in DEL and BOM with sit down service and food made to order
- Indian hospitality (You must stay at the Taj Mumbai but don't book a room in the tower, stay in the old historic...
Ben, once the new Air India lounges in Delhi reopen, it may be time to review AI again.
India's changed a lot with the upper mid range travel options that your readers may enjoy:
- Centurion lounges in DEL and BOM with sit down service and food made to order
- Indian hospitality (You must stay at the Taj Mumbai but don't book a room in the tower, stay in the old historic portion)
- Decent (but not luxury) points hotels available with western programs (Alila hotels in Goa, St Regis Mumbai, Ritz Carlton Bangalore)
We know the old adage - putting lipstick on a pig …..
1990 guest
your response was funny thanks
Thanks, Raj!
DEL-HND could be one of the first routes starting February 14, as it’s advertised that 787-9 replaces 787-8 which has been flying this route.
It’s unlikely to be a former Vistara plane since such flight starts with 4 digit flight number starting with 2 (ie AI 2xxxx), which in this case is not.
Ben, did you, uh, check-in on the pilots beforehand. Like, 'hey, fellas, namaste, hope you're doing well. Everyone wants to live, right? Okie dokey. Cheers!'
@1990 by that logic, we'll have to check with Boeing CEO, every time we fly on a Boeing plane.
Ole gets it. I agree; I think there's much more to AI171, and not sure if we'll ever get the truth.
Realistically two new reverse herringbone seat designs aren't going to be different enough from each other enough to meaningfully shift passenger opinion and experience
Ben - Did you fly the AI 788 or 789 during your recent trip to India?
Bold of him as AI is still managing the aftermath of AI171.
The seat was remodeled and renamed to the Indian market due to the Indians traditional ritual at the airplanes- Safran Urinity
read phillipines airlines reports on toilets
INDIA???
Is that a question?
Sorry Nathaniel, perhaps I was not clear enough the first time.
Let's try this again.
INDIA???
Thanks for confirming you are as stupid as a rod.
According to Campbell Wilson, Safran (presumably) walked away from the contract and "left us in the lurch". I have no idea why. So they probably scrambled for other suppliers and the had to split suppliers due to seat delivery delays. I don't think the vast majority of people give a damn about whether they're flying on a Recaro R7 or Safran Unity. They'll be happy not to fly the old AI interiors. Having the exact...
According to Campbell Wilson, Safran (presumably) walked away from the contract and "left us in the lurch". I have no idea why. So they probably scrambled for other suppliers and the had to split suppliers due to seat delivery delays. I don't think the vast majority of people give a damn about whether they're flying on a Recaro R7 or Safran Unity. They'll be happy not to fly the old AI interiors. Having the exact same seat in across the fleet probably doesn't matter when the rest of your fleet is falling apart.
They could have chosen Stelia Opera like Air France. Stelia is an Airbus subsidiary so should have been easier to order and certify. Recaro R7 is basically the bottom of the new gen mini suite products. They also cheaped out by choosing Elevation instead of Elements from Collins.
It's just probably that it's easier to get their hands on the Elevation than the Elements and that they already have an existing relation with Recaro on installing their economy and premium economy seats.
If AI is going to have its very, very good A350 soft product on this variety of hard product seats, it's a winner... eventually, maybe, because it's AI and who knows.
Consistency really is the key; the swaps from a350 or 787 to older 777 are a major concern.
When will all these PPT projects complete? 0.5x Allegris timeline or even 1x Allegris length?
Does Air India still plan to offer at least a row of first class on some of these new or retrofitted planes?
Yup, on some A35Ks and B777s
That looks like Ethiad’s business class. lol. Are you sure you didn’t fly them?
Oh wait. I thought you flew on it. Either way, it looks like Etihad’s interior.