New ‘Air India experience’ takes off with the long-haul debut of A350, its onboard soft product

Air India’s Malabar Princess created history on June 10, 1948, when it touched down in London – the 40-seater Lockheed Constellation 749A aircraft that flew from Mumbai was the airline’s first international flight. Seventy-six years later Air India has chosen the same destination for the international debut of its flagship A350 aircraft and its new soft product called “Vista Verve”. A350 is the first new aircraft type to be introduced by any Indian airline in over a decade. For Air India which has been facing flak on many of its ageing legacy fleet, these swanky planes and the new onboard experience could well be the indication that its story of transformation is finally taking off.

The airline changed ownership from the government to Tata Group in January 2022.

“It has not been easy to transform an organisation which needed large investments, both in terms of infrastructure, people and processes,” says Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.