TBM Staff - Mumbai
Following its integration with Vistara, Air India has announced a strategic optimisation of its domestic route network, starting December 1, 2024. The airline will deploy its finest narrowbody cabin products, inherited from Vistara, on five key metro-to-metro routes: Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Bengaluru, Delhi-Hyderabad, Mumbai-Bengaluru, and Mumbai-Hyderabad. These routes will now feature Air India’s premium three-class configuration: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy, offering enhanced comfort and service to travellers.
Flights on these routes will operate with four-digit “AI”-prefixed flight numbers beginning with ‘2,’ such as AI2999 for Delhi-Mumbai. Air India will also spread flight departures throughout the day, maintaining high frequencies while improving convenience. The airline now offers over 1,000 weekly round-trip flights across these routes, with daily services such as 56x for Delhi-Mumbai, 36x for Delhi-Bengaluru, and 24x for Delhi-Hyderabad. One widebody flight will continue to operate daily between select metro pairs using Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 aircraft.
Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson highlighted the benefits of the merger, noting that it allows Air India to combine the strengths of two full-service carriers. He added that the initiative will expand to additional routes in 2025 as Air India inducts new aircraft and retrofits its existing narrowbody fleet. The premium aircraft on these routes feature 8 luxurious Business Class seats with extensive recline, 24 Premium Economy seats with enhanced legroom, and 132 Economy seats with added comfort, ensuring a world-class flying experience for all passengers.
Travelers on these metro-to-metro routes can expect award-winning cabin interiors, complimentary meals, premium lounge access, and seamless connections to global destinations. The new flight schedules will progressively appear across booking platforms, including Air India’s website, mobile app, and authorised travel agents. This optimisation reflects Air India’s ongoing commitment to redefining travel standards and enhancing customer satisfaction.
