Air India deploys new Boeing 787-9 on Mumbai-London route; introduces premium economy
Mumbai, July 1
In a major upgrade to its international passenger experience, Air India on Wednesday commenced the deployment of its brand-new, latest-generation Boeing 787-9 aircraft on the flagship Mumbai to London Heathrow sector.
Effective Wednesday, flights AI131 and AI130 will operate using these purpose-built, line-fit aircraft, featuring entirely redesigned custom cabin interiors installed directly on the Boeing assembly line.
The introduction of the new aircraft also marks the debut of a dedicated Premium Economy Class on this high-demand international route, offering travellers a choice of three distinct cabins: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. Meanwhile, Air India's second daily service between Mumbai and London Heathrow will continue to be operated by its upgraded Boeing 777-300ER, which includes a First Class cabin.
The newly introduced Boeing 787-9 features a 296-seat three-class configuration blending contemporary design with traditional Indian aesthetics.
The entire aircraft is equipped with the state-of-the-art Thales AVANT Up inflight entertainment system. Passengers can pair their personal Bluetooth headphones to access an extensive entertainment library featuring over 3,000 hours of content. All seats are outfitted with USB-A, USB-C, and AC power outlets.
In addition to hardware upgrades, the airline has rolled out refreshed onboard amenities, including curated multi-cuisine menus served on premium chinaware and glassware, plus redesigned amenity kits and plush bedding.
The expansion comes as Air India strengthens its foothold in the crucial UK market, catering to strong demand from business elites, leisure travellers, and the Indian diaspora.
The airline currently operates 57 weekly non-stop flights connecting major Indian hubs--including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Amritsar--to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Birmingham.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I flew AI131 last week on the old 777. The new plane sounds amazing. Bluetooth headphone pairing and USB-C ports? Finally, an airline that understands 2025 technology! Hope they roll this out on Delhi routes too.
57 weekly flights to London is impressive, but what about other destinations? Toronto, San Francisco, Sydney? Air India needs to expand beyond the UK. Still, happy to see premium economy - my parents will love it for their yearly UK visit. Good job, Tata! 👍
"Traditional Indian aesthetics" - hope they mean the iconic Kanjeevaram-inspired seats and not just some random design! 😄 But seriously, Thales AVANT Up is top-notch. Flew with Qatar last month, their system feels outdated compared to this. Air India is finally competing!
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic better watch out. Air India with Tata backing is serious competition. The 787-9 is more fuel-efficient too, which means lower costs. Hopefully, those savings pass to passengers. Mumbai-London just got more interesting!
Premium economy on Indian carriers - finally! Now if only they'd upgrade the ground experience. Mumbai T2 is great, but immigration queues are still a nightmare. Airlines can only do so much. Still, kudos for the hardware upgrade. 🛫
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