Effective 1 December 2024, Air India will strategically optimize its domestic route network by deploying its premium narrowbody cabin products on five critical metro-to-metro routes.
Vistara narrowbody A320 aircraft in a three-cabin class configuration will be deployed to serve these five key routes. Optimised frequency and departure times will offer maximum choice and flexibility for travellers on these services.
This initiative follows the recent integration of Vistara into the Air India network.
Route Coverage and Flight Details
The selected routes will exclusively feature erstwhile Vistara A320-series aircraft, offering a comprehensive three-class cabin configuration. The five metro-to-metro routes are:
- Delhi-Mumbai
- Delhi-Bengaluru
- Delhi-Hyderabad
- Mumbai-Bengaluru
- Mumbai-Hyderabad
All flights on these routes will be identifiable by ‘AI’-prefixed four-digit flight numbers commencing with ‘2’, such as AI2999 for the Delhi to Mumbai route.
Air India will continue to operate one widebody flight each between Delhi and Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. This will be operated with its Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 aircraft, which will have ‘AI’-prefixed three-digit flight numbers.
Frequency and Schedule Optimization
Air India has significantly enhanced its presence on these key routes. It now operates more than 1,000 weekly round trip flights.
- Delhi-Mumbai: 56 daily flights
- Delhi-Bengaluru: 36 daily flights
- Delhi-Hyderabad: 24 daily flights
- Mumbai-Bengaluru: 22 daily flights
- Mumbai-Hyderabad: 18 daily flights
The airline will also optimize flight schedules to distribute departures throughout the day while maintaining existing frequency levels.
Air India CEO Comments
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India, commented on the transition. “The merger of Vistara into Air India has unlocked numerous opportunities to enhance our customer offering.”
“By consolidating the strengths of both full-service carriers, we are strategically positioning our best narrowbody product on routes with high demand for a full-service, high-frequency experience. We anticipate progressively expanding this coverage as we induct new aircraft and complete our legacy narrowbody fleet retrofit during 2025.”
Cabin Configuration
The aircraft serving these metro routes will feature a three-class cabin configuration.
The Business Class offers 8 luxurious seats, each providing a generous 41-inch pitch, complemented by a 7-inch recline, and enhanced comfort with dedicated leg and foot rests.
The Premium Economy cabin comprises 24 extra legroom seats, offering passengers 33 inches of pitch and a 4-inch recline for improved comfort.
The Economy Class section includes 132 comfortable seats with a standard 29-inch pitch and 3-inch recline, ensuring a pleasant travel experience for all passengers.
Passenger Highlights
Travelers can expect a world-class, full-service flying experience that encompasses multiple premium features. The journey begins with award-winning cabin interiors that set a new standard in air travel comfort.
Passengers will enjoy complimentary hot meals that cater to diverse culinary preferences. Premium guests benefit from lounge access at major airports, providing a refined pre-flight experience.
The network offers convenient flight connections across five continents, maximizing travel flexibility and connectivity.
The optimized route strategy represents a key step in Air India’s post-merger operational enhancement. It promises an improved travel experience for passengers on these key metropolitan routes.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!
