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Air India’s Cabin Upgrades Take Shape: How it Plans to Fix Passenger Experience

Air India, under government control until 2022, has long had a problem with its interiors: Broken seats and dysfunctional in-flight entertainment topped the complaints. When Air India was privatized, the government handed over the planes on an as-is basis. At the CAPA India Aviation Summit 2023, CEO Campbell Wilson told the audience how Air India had to resort to 3D Printing of small spare parts to keep the seats serviceable. Now Air India is trying to fix all that. The airline claims to have completed the refurbishment of 40% of the seats of the entire fleet (widebody and narrowbody). And it says it has restored 99% of the In-Flight Entertainment systems on its premium cabin inventory. Air India has also decided to augment its fleet by leasing aircraft, and brought in improved interiors as a result. In 2022, it signed a lease for five Boeing 777-200LR aircraft that had been a part of Delta’s fleet. Delta completed refurbishing its 777 fleet in 2019, even adding its Delta One business cabin, with doors. Delta decided to convert these to freighters when the pandemic struck. However, they have since been retrieved from storage, sent for maintenance and repainting in Singapore, and inducted into Air India’s fleet. Air India is getting good reviews for the planes, some of which are already flying passengers from Mumbai and Bengaluru to the U.S. Air India has similarly announced a lease of nine Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which had been in service for Etihad or Singapore Airlines earlier. Overall, that’s 14 Boeing 777s that are leased and sport the cabins of other carriers but will fly for Air India. In 2022, Air India announced it would spend $400 million on refurbishing its entire widebody fleet that it inherited during the privatization. However, details were light until last week. The aircraft will add a premium economy cabin to these long-haul jets. Surprisingly, Air India has decided to retain the First Class Cabin in the refurbished version of its 777. Air India did not have the lead time to design its own cabin product, so it is going with some off-the-shelf solutions for the refurbishment. A video of the new cabin walkthrough shows the latest developments. The video indicates the first- and business-class cabins will be based on a common platform, Safran’s Unity, which will also be used by Qantas on its Project Sunrise A350-1000 aircraft. Air India’s First Class cabin onboard their refurbished 777s will have four seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat will have privacy doors, a widescreen, and an ottoman for comfort. The seat itself is fitted with ample storage options and inbuilt wireless charging. In Business Class, Air India will replace their angled-flat offering with the same seat in a staggered layout, making room for 40 business class passengers in a 1-2-1 configuration over the current LOPA of 35 passengers in a 2-3-2 layout.This will be a vast upgrade for those flying long-haul business with the airline. The decision to keep a common seat for business and first would have been made with multiple considerations in mind. It would help simplify the spares pool to be maintained for the equipment and also allow the airline to operate without a heavier seat in their top cabin. However, the service differentiation will determine if this is a true First Class experience or more like a Business Plus. For the new Premium Economy cabin, Air India seems to have gone with Recaro’s PL3530 platform, which is the baseline for Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin and flies on Air India’s sister carrier, Vistara’s 787-9s. A 40-seat cabin, this one will come with more room and padding than Economy seats and a calf rest. Economy class aboard Air India will get tighter for long-haul flights, with the airline moving to a 3-4-3 layout from the generous 3-3-3 earlier, and new seats from Recaro. Overall, on the 777, while the number of passengers will remain approximately the same, the aircraft will now have a 25% premium capacity, compared to the earlier 13%. Apart from the aircraft being fitted with new seats, the airline will invest in in-flight Wi-Fi and offer in-flight entertainment with 1,700 hours of programming. The airline mentions that the first of these jets will enter service in the second half of 2024. Air India will also start the induction of its six A350-900 aircraft from November 2023 onwards, with the other widebodies arriving 2025 onwards. Overall, the future looks like one where Air India passengers would look forward to their flight rather than go one-stop.

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Andaman and Nicobar Islands to launch premium caravan tourism service to travellers at exotic locations

Tourists visiting Andaman and Nicobar Islands will soon be able to hire luxury caravans at exotic locations in the archipelago, an official said. The air-conditioned ‘caravan’ will have luxurious bunk beds, a lounge area with mood lights, recliners along with foldable tables and chairs, swanky kitchenette, bathroom, and power backup. It will have a 360-degree security camera and GPS navigation for the safety of tourists, the official said. As per the initial plan, the Directorate of Information, Publicity and Tourism (IP&T) will chalk out various exotic locations close to beaches, in the jungles and hills where tourists who will hire these caravans will park their vehicles for an adventurous and comfortable stay. These exotic locations will have basic facilities like water connections, electric power supply, outdoor barbeque, beautiful lawns, and a caretaker cum guide to assist the tourists. In these locations travellers can stay for a couple of days (depending on the package), they can cook, and enjoy their vacation. The administration is mulling the idea of allowing tourists to travel from one location to another depending on the occupancy status of the chalked-out exotic locations so that they can roam around in the caravan to witness other parts of this beautiful island. "Caravans are a unique tourism product, which promotes family-oriented tours even in circuits/destinations which do not have adequate hotel accommodation. Caravan parks will be developed at selected suitable locations where caravans can stay overnight providing basic or advanced amenities and facilities. It is felt that Caravan tourism will meet the growing demand for eco, adventure, rural, and beach tourism while ensuring adherence to quality, standards, and safety norms. "Caravan Tourism would attract a wide range of market segments including young people, families, senior citizens, and international tourists," Dr Jatinder Sohal, Director Tourism Department, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, told. The main objective of the ‘caravan’ is to promote tourism while taking the utmost care when it comes to a comfortable stay for the tourist while preserving its ecological integrity. Already, the public, tourism stakeholders, and government departments have been invited to contribute their suggestions, inputs, and comments on the draft policy. "Those who are interested have a 30-day window, from August 12 to September 12, 2023, to submit their valuable comments, suggestions, and inputs to us," a senior IP&T official said.

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EY-Visa report estimates India's tourism sector to be a trillion dollar industry by 2047 - experts

The tourism sector in India is on track to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2047, generating around 400 million job opportunities, according to a report by Visa and EY. The driving force behind this growth is expected to be data-driven tourism, with sustainability, emerging technologies, and changing traveler preferences playing significant roles in reshaping the industry. Sustainable tourism experiences have gained substantial global traction, reaching a market value of $180 billion. For India, this market is projected to maintain a robust 15 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The country has positioned itself as a proponent of sustainable travel, leveraging its G20 presidency to advocate for the development of eco-friendly and responsible tourism practices. The joint EY-Visa report also anticipates that the digital transformation in the aviation, travel, and tourism sectors will contribute $305 billion in value, while redirecting $100 billion from traditional industry players to new contenders worldwide. A pivotal aspect of this transformation revolves around evolving preferences of tourists, particularly influenced by the presence of Generation Z, constituting 24 percent of the global population, with India hosting 27 percent of this demographic. Furthermore, international tourists visiting India tend to spend 26 times more than domestic tourists, presenting a compelling case for positioning India as a global tourism hub. Amidst these trends lies a momentous expansion in India's travel and tourism market. In 2022, this sector contributed $190 billion to the country's GDP and is expected to reach $201.37 billion by the end of 2023. Over the following decade, projections by WTTC suggest a staggering growth to approximately $451.56 billion. In parallel, employment within the tourism sector is also anticipated to surge from 37.2 million in 2022 to an estimated 39 million by the conclusion of the current year. MakeMyTrip, recognised as India's largest travel agency and aptly labeled a "super app," achieved its highest quarterly gross bookings in its 23-year history. Notably, a significant portion of this growth is attributed to business from tier-II and tier-III cities, accounting for 17 percent of overall business compared to just 6 percent in 2019.

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We must promote tourism but not a the cost of villages: Tourism Sec

In a session of more than 300 Sarpanches and Gram Pradhans from Border Villages, V. Vidyavathi, Secretary of Tourism, Government of India, emphasised promoting tourism preserving village integrity. The session explored the Vibrant Villages Programme's commitment to transforming these areas into tourist destinations. Sarpanches shared insights on tourism development in their villages, associated challenges, and available opportunities. Representative Image In a session attended by over 300 Sarpanches and Gram Pradhans from Border Villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme, V. Vidyavathi, Secretary of Tourism, Government of India, reiterated the significance of promoting tourism without compromising the essence of these villages. “We must promote tourism but not at the cost of villages,” Vidyavathi said. Additionally, she provided assurance of complete support for the advancement and promotion of villages under the "Vibrant Villages" program, intending to establish them as sought-after tourist destinations. Introduced as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) aims to ensure holistic development of designated villages situated across 46 blocks along the northern border, spanning 19 districts encompassing regions such as Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, UT of Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. The Vibrant Villages Programme comes with a central contribution of INR 4800 crore, designated for the fiscal period from 2022-23 to 2025- 26. Notably, INR 2500 crore of this allocation is earmarked exclusively for enhancing road connectivity. India's overtourism catastrophe: A looming crisis that calls for urgent action Damaging impact of overtourism looms large over global travel, with India standing at a critical juncture. Amidst a 166 per cent surge in… Adventure tourism also came under focus, with Vidyavathi highlighting its significance and potential in vibrant villages. She informed that the Ministry of Tourism is currently developing three Trans-state Mega Adventure Trails that particularly cater to the villages covered by the Vibrant Villages Programme – the Western Indian Himalayan Trail, Eastern Indian Himalayan Trail, and Trans Himalayan Trail. The Secretary also reiterated the Ministry's dedication to celebrating tourism festivals, expressing that the festivities would be brought to the villages to negate the need for people to travel to Delhi for the same. During the meeting, various dimensions of tourism were discussed, along with challenges faced by different villages and potential solutions for tourism development. Topics relating to infrastructure, community involvement, skill enhancement and environmental preservation were addressed. Sarpanches from different villages shared their insights on tourism development in their respective villages, associated challenges, and available opportunities.

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Air India launches four-day sale, fares start at Rs 1,470

On domestic routes, one-way, all-inclusive fares will start from Rs 1,470 for economy class tickets and Rs 10,130 for the business class. Global carrier Air India on August 17 has launched a 96-hour sale on select domestic and international routes, offering discounted tickets for travel between September 1 and October 31, 2023.On domestic routes, one-way all-inclusive fares will start from Rs 1,470 for economy class and Rs 10,130 for business class tickets, the Tata-owned airline said.Similar discounted rates will be available on select international routes as well. All bookings made during the sale period through the Air India website -- airindia.com -- and the mobile app will be free of convenience fee. Air India’s Flying Returns members will be offered double loyalty bonus points on all such tickets. Bookings, which opened on August 17, can be made till 11.59 pm on August 20, 2023 for travel between September 1, 2023, and October 31, 2023. Blackout dates will apply throughout the travel period.In addition to the Air India website and mobile app, bookings made through authorised travel agents and online travel agents (OTAs) without the special benefits associated with direct channel bookings will also be eligible for discounted tickets, the airline said. The Air India announcement coincides with SpiceJet’s Independence Day sale, which, too, ends on August 20. The low-cost airline is offering fares starting at Rs 1,515 for August 15-March 30, 2024 travel period.

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Go First Cancels Flights Till Aug 18

Go First ohas cancelled its flights until August 18, citing operational reasons. In a tweet, the airline said, “Due to operational reasons, Go First flights until 18th August 2023 are cancelled.” The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last month accepted the airline’s resumption plan. The aviation regulator has reportedly approved Go First to operate 114 daily flights with 15 aircraft. The DGCA conducted a special audit of Go First facilities in Delhi and Mumbai from July 4 to 6.

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