Air India begins deploying B777-300ER with upgraded cabin interiors on flights to Melbourne from July 1
New Delhi, June 30
Air India will deploy its B777-300ER aircraft featuring upgraded cabin interiors on flights between Delhi and Melbourne, effective 1 July, replacing the existing aircraft. This marks a significant enhancement in premium seat capacity on the route, comfort, and on-board experience, including the introduction of First Class on the route.
Configured in a three-class layout, Air India's upgraded Boeing 777-300ER features 08 First Class suites, 40 fully flat Business Class beds, and 280 Economy Class seats, representing a substantial increase in premium capacity compared to the existing B787-8 on this route, which features 28 Business Class and 241 Economy Class seats, according to an official release.
The deployment brings a more consistent and elevated long-haul product to Air India's Melbourne services, aligned with the airline's ongoing transformation into a world-class global carrier.
Air India guests to Melbourne will now benefit from a wide range of enhancements, including:
Luxurious private suites in First Class, offering leather-upholstered seats that convert into fully flat beds, privacy doors, an elevated on-ground and dining experience, and personalised service.
Significantly upgraded Business Class product, with fully flat beds offering enhanced comfort, space, and privacy, alongside improved soft product elements.
Wi-Fi internet connectivity, introduced on this route for the first time, enables guests to stay connected with work or loved ones throughout their flight.
Refreshed food & beverage offering, including thoughtfully curated menus featuring the best of global cuisine alongside Indian favourites, complemented by a selection of premium wines and spirits.
Enhanced inflight entertainment, with a richer and more diverse content library across movies, TV shows, music, and more, catering to global tastes.
The aircraft upgrade complements Air India's broader investments in elevating the end-to-end customer journey. This includes access to the airline's new flagship Maharaja Lounge at Delhi Airport for eligible premium customers, offering a refined pre-flight experience with upgraded dining, seating, and service, the release stated.
Together, these enhancements reflect Air India's continued focus on modernising its fleet, upgrading its product offering, and delivering a seamless, high-quality experience across touchpoints.
Australia remains a key international market for Air India, with strong and growing demand for both business and leisure travel. The introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER on the Delhi-Melbourne route underscores the airline's commitment to strengthening connectivity while offering a more competitive and globally benchmarked product.
Air India currently operates 4x weekly non-stop flights between Delhi and Melbourne and is scheduled to operate 7x weekly services on the route from 01 September 2026, the release noted.
The airline's Delhi-Melbourne service also provides travellers with convenient, same-terminal connections via Delhi to destinations across Europe, including London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Milan, Zurich, among others.
Air India also operates non-stop flights between Delhi and Sydney, enabling similar seamless onward connections to and from destinations in the UK and the rest of Europe.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good step but still far behind Emirates and Singapore Airlines. Wi-fi is nice but they need to improve punctuality and ground staff behaviour. Also, the 7x weekly from 2026 is too late - demand is already huge. Hope they add more Indian routes to Australia directly instead of only Delhi.
As an Australian who frequently travels to India for business, this is welcome news. The old 787 was fine but the 777 premium cabins are genuinely competitive now. First Class on Air India? Never thought I'd see that on a Melbourne flight. The connection to Europe via Delhi is a smart bonus too.
Honestly, I'm happy but cautious. Air India has been promising upgrades for years. The new product looks good on paper but let's see the real passenger reviews. The food and service are what matter for us desi travellers - hope the Indian menu is authentic and not westernised. Also, why only 4x weekly? Mumbai-Melbourne next please! 🤞
Great to see Air India raising its game. The privacy doors in First and the fully flat beds in Business are what premium travellers expect. The Maharaja Lounge at Delhi is a nice touch. I'll be interested to see if the wi-fi is actually reliable - many airlines promise it but it's often patchy.
This is brilliant for the Melbourne Indian diaspora! My parents fly to see us every year and they'll love the new seats. The IFE with Indian content is crucial for them. Just hope the vegetarian meal quality matches what they promise. Air India's veg meals were always better than
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