(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) India's leading international airline Air India gears up to press into service its first refurbished, wide-bodied aircraft with new seats and entertainment system by the middle of 2024.
The Tata Group-owned carrier will capitalise on the Air India brand, both for its premium and low-cost products, and do away with the Vistara brand, its chief executive officer Campbell Wilson said.
The airline will also continue with the Air India mascot – the Maharaja, Campbell said at a media interaction on Monday.
Air India is currently in the process of undertaking a $400-million cabin refurbishment plan as part of its image and brand improvement plan.
The refurbished planes are to be deployed on the Europe and the US routes from the second half of 2024.
The group has also decided to retain Air India as a single full-service brand but will retain and celebrate Vistara's heritage in some form, the CEO said.
Air India, which has assigned a UK-based consultant for a brand makeover, will also retain its famed Maharaja mascot.
“Maharaja is one of the many assets of Air India as a consequence of its 90 years' history. It is well-known and loved in India. It will be part of Air India's future. Exactly how I can't say,” Wilson said.
He said a complete refurbishment of the existing wide-body product is underway.
Air India improves comfort on wide-body planes
The airline has made a good stride in repairing and replacing broken seats, cushions, and curtains in the existing wide-body aircraft, such as Boeing 777 and 787 planes.
The in-flight entertainment system in business class cabins of these planes, too, has been made functional.
While Boeing 777 planes fly to North America, the 787 aircraft are deployed to Europe, East Asia, and Australia.
Wilson said the airline is inducting 500 crew each month and is confident that this will serve the airline's expansion needs.
In the short term, the airline is also looking for expatriate pilots and Indians working with overseas airlines.
In response to a query, Wilson said that the airline has reviewed its alcohol service policy after an on-board urination incident and encouraged the crew to report cases.
He said there are alcohol-related incidents happening daily with passengers consuming drinks prior to boarding or drinking from their own duty-free bottles on board.
-B