Airlines

Air India Begins $400M Revamp: Exciting New Interiors & Fresh Livery Coming Soon

Air India to Upgrade Fleet with Retrofit of 100 Planes, CEO Says

Air India announced on Tuesday that it is embarking on a $400 million initiative to revamp the interiors of more than half its fleet, part of a broader push to modernize its services.

The Tata-owned airline aims to complete the upgradation of its 27 legacy Airbus A320neo aircraft by mid-2025, transforming its narrow-body fleet with a fresh, three-class cabin layout.

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A Phased Overhaul of Air India’s Fleet

The revamp will begin with the Airbus A320neo narrow-body planes, followed by 40 wide-body Boeing aircraft. Air India is introducing a new travel experience, complete with updated seats, carpets, curtains, and upholstery, air india wifi across its revamped fleet. The upgraded planes will feature three cabin classes: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy, providing a more premium and diverse offering for passengers.

Progress and Timeline

Air India has already sent its first narrow-body aircraft for upgrading and aims to refit three to four planes each month. The airline expects to have all 27 A320neo aircraft refurbished by mid-2025, setting the stage for a more consistent product air india a350 interior across its fleet.

Fleet Modernization Strategy

Currently, Air India operates a fleet of 128 aircraft, according to its website. The upgrade of its existing planes is a key part of its strategy, alongside a massive order for 470 new jets from Airbus and Boeing, as the airline looks to enhance its market position and elevate the air india refurbishment passenger experience.

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Air India did not immediately respond to requests for clarification regarding the companies involved in the overhaul air india a350 routes or how the $400 million will be allocated within the program.

With these upgrades, Air India aims to offer passengers a more premium in-flight experience, positioning itself as a competitive player in both domestic and international markets.

Airlines

US DOT Approves Merger: Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines Finalize Deal

In a significant development for the aviation industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an order granting an exemption for the transfer of international route authorities in the merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

The merger, which is expected to be completed in the coming days, represents a major consolidation in the airline sector. Under the terms of the exemption, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are required to adhere to several key public-interest protections.

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These stipulations are aimed at preserving service quality and consumer benefits as the merger progresses. Specifically, the airlines must protect the value of rewards, maintain existing service levels on crucial Hawaiian routes to the continental U.S. and inter-island routes, and support rural services.

Additionally, they are required to ensure competitive access at the Honolulu hub airport, offer fee-free family seating, provide alternative compensation for controllable disruptions, and lower costs for military families.

This proactive approach by the DOT marks a new phase in the Department’s merger review process. For the first time, airlines are required to agree to binding, enforceable public-interest protections as a condition for closing their merger.

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This move highlights the DOT’s commitment to safeguarding public interests and ensuring that mergers do not undermine service quality or competition. As part of the merger agreement, Alaska Airlines will assume approximately $900 million in Hawaiian Airlines’ debt.

Despite this substantial financial responsibility, Alaska plans to retain Hawaiian as a separate brand, which will negate the need for repainting aircraft. To secure approval from the DOT, the airlines agreed to maintain current service levels on key routes where competition is limited.

The exemption granted by the DOT allows Alaska and Hawaiian to finalize their merger while remaining separate and independently operated until the Department completes its review of the transfer application. If the transfer is approved, the public-interest protections will remain in effect for six years.