Tag: Air India

Travel

Air India Deploys New B787-9 Aircraft on Mumbai–Frankfurt Route from February 2026

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Gurugram, January 15, 2026: Air India has announced a major enhancement to its Mumbai–Frankfurt service with the deployment of its newly delivered, first line-fit B787-9 aircraft featuring new cabin interiors. The upgraded aircraft will operate on the route starting February 1, 2026.


Air India currently operates five flights a week between Mumbai and Frankfurt, strengthening connectivity between the financial centres of India and Germany. With this deployment, all Air India flights to Germany, including services between Delhi and Frankfurt, will now be operated using new or upgraded aircraft.

The move is part of Air India’s ongoing fleet transformation programme, which includes additional widebody aircraft deliveries and retrofits planned through 2026. These upgrades aim to modernise a significant portion of the airline’s long-haul fleet and enhance passenger experience.

Further strengthening international connectivity, Air India continues its codeshare partnership with Lufthansa, enabling seamless onward travel from Frankfurt to 29 destinations across Europe, as well as select destinations in North and South America.

Air India’s optimised schedules also provide convenient one-stop connections via Mumbai or Delhi for travellers flying between Germany and destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia. These include Bangkok, Bali, Colombo, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phuket and Singapore.

Mumbai–Frankfurt Flight Schedule

Flight Route Departure Arrival

AI2027 Mumbai–Frankfurt 12:35 hrs 17:30 hrs
AI2028 Frankfurt–Mumbai 20:20 hrs 09:00 hrs (+1)


Tickets for the Mumbai–Frankfurt services remain available across all booking channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, airport ticketing offices, contact centres and authorised travel agents worldwide.

Air India Group, comprising Air India and Air India Express, continues its five-year transformation programme, Vihaan.AI, following its return to Tata Sons ownership in 2022. The airline has placed orders for 570 new aircraft and is undertaking fleet renewal, training infrastructure expansion and maintenance facility development as part of its long-term growth strategy.

Travel

From Kebab to Bibimbap: Air India Refreshes Its Inflight Dining with a Global Gourmet Menu

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk

Air India announces the introduction of a refreshed global inflight menu across its fleet, drawing inspiration from India’s rich culinary traditions while incorporating flavours from international cuisines. The new menu reflects the airline’s focus on enhancing customer experience as part of its ongoing transformation, offering thoughtfully curated meals that cater to diverse tastes and preferences of global travellers.

The menu takes inspiration from India’s culinary landscape, ranging from the royal kitchens of Awadh to the coastal flavours of southern India, while also featuring Pan-Asian dishes, European bistro selections and geo-specific star offerings. It is introduced on several international ex-India routes, including flights from Delhi to London Heathrow, New York, Melbourne, Sydney, Toronto and Dubai, as well as services from Mumbai and Bengaluru to San Francisco and Mumbai to New York. The rollout continues progressively across all international sectors and domestic routes.

Travellers in First Class enjoy gourmet meals with artisanal breads, signature desserts and bespoke wine and champagne pairings. Business Class features multi-course gourmet meals with customisable options and curated beverages, while Premium Economy and Economy cabins receive upgraded meal trays with balanced options, familiar regional flavours and improved presentation. The menu includes signature Indian dishes such as Awadhi Paneer Anjeer Pasanda, Murgh Massalam and South Indian platters, alongside international offerings like Japanese Teppanyaki bowls, Mediterranean tapas and Korean-inspired Bibimbap.

The refreshed menu also introduces Gen Z-inspired desserts, homestyle comfort food options and a wide range of plant-based and special dietary meals, including vegan, gluten-free and allergen-conscious choices. Guests can select from over 18 special meal types, reinforcing Air India’s commitment to inclusivity and personalised dining experiences.

Curated by Chef Sandeep Kalra, who recently joined Air India, the menu reflects both traditional Indian flavours and global culinary trends that resonate with modern travellers. The airline’s cabin crew undergo specialised training to further enhance the onboard dining experience, ensuring attention to detail in service and presentation.

Air India also strengthens its focus on sustainability through responsible sourcing, eco-friendly packaging and waste reduction initiatives. The airline prioritises locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to support farmers and reduce food miles, while adopting compostable utensils, paper meal boxes and reduced single-use plastics. With these initiatives, Air India continues to reimagine inflight dining by combining taste, care and culinary excellence, reinforcing its vision of being a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.

Travel

Air India to Resume Non-Stop Flights to Mainland China; Delhi–Shanghai Route Restarting February 2026

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Air India has officially announced the resumption of its non-stop operations to mainland China, nearly six years after services were halted. Beginning 1 February 2026, the airline will operate four weekly flights between Delhi and Shanghai (PVG), marking a major milestone in restoring India–China air connectivity.

The flights will be operated using Air India’s modern Boeing 787-8 aircraft, equipped with 18 fully flat beds in Business Class and 238 comfortable seats in Economy Class. Shanghai now becomes the 48th international destination served by the Air India group.

In addition, Air India has revealed plans to launch a Mumbai–Shanghai non-stop service later in 2026, pending regulatory permissions.

A Major Step Forward for India–China Connectivity

The resumption follows new diplomatic agreements that restored suspended air links between the two nations. Air India originally launched non-stop flights to mainland China in October 2000, and this relaunch reflects renewed confidence in business, tourism, trade, and academic exchanges.

Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson called the move a symbolic reconnection of two ancient cultures and fast-growing global economies.
He stated:

“This resumption is more than a route launch. It is a bridge between two great, ancient civilisations and modern economic powerhouses. We are happy to reconnect one of the world’s most vital air corridors, enabling travellers to pursue opportunities in business, trade, healthcare, education and culture — with warm Indian hospitality that defines Air India.”

Flight Schedule: Delhi (DEL) – Shanghai (PVG)

Effective 01 February 2026

Flight No.SectorDepartureArrivalDays
AI352Delhi–Shanghai1200 hrs2020 hrsTue, Thu, Fri, Sun
AI351Shanghai–Delhi2200 hrs0315 hrs (+1)Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun

Bookings are now progressively opening across Air India’s channels — website, app, sales offices, contact centre, and travel agents worldwide.

The airline expects that the restored route will help strengthen ties in pharmaceuticals, technology, education, finance, and tourism, contributing to deeper socio-economic exchanges.

Travel

Air India Adds 174 Weekly Flights to Domestic and Short-Haul International Network for Winter 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Air India has announced a significant network expansion for the Northern Winter Schedule 2025, introducing 174 additional weekly flights across key domestic and short-haul international routes starting 26 October 2025. The new schedule strengthens connectivity between major Indian cities and Southeast Asian destinations, reflecting the airline’s commitment to offering greater convenience and choice for travelers.

Among the international enhancements, flights from Delhi to Kuala Lumpur and Denpasar (Bali) will each increase from seven to ten weekly services, effective mid-November and early December respectively. Domestically, the expansion focuses on high-demand destinations in Rajasthan, with new routes such as Delhi–Jaipur and Delhi–Jaisalmer, along with increased frequencies on existing routes including Delhi–Udaipur, Mumbai–Jaipur, and Mumbai–Jodhpur. Additional flights are being introduced across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and other cities including Varanasi, Port Blair, Guwahati, Raipur, and Amritsar.

This growth follows the near completion of Air India’s comprehensive retrofit program for its legacy Airbus A320neo aircraft, launched in September 2024. Of the 27 aircraft, 26 have been completely refurbished with brand-new interiors featuring Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class. With this upgrade, Air India now operates more than 100 A320 Family aircraft with enhanced interiors, serving over 80 domestic and short-haul international destinations.

The expansion is part of the airline’s ongoing transformation plan under Vihaan.AI, which aims to rebuild Air India into a world-class global carrier with an Indian heart. The airline, which returned to the Tata Group in 2022 after seven decades of government ownership, continues to evolve under an ambitious five-year roadmap. With more than 300 aircraft in its fleet and an order for 570 new planes underway, Air India is reshaping the future of Indian aviation through network growth, modern infrastructure, and superior customer experience.

As part of the larger Air India Group, which includes the full-service Air India and low-cost Air India Express, the company is leading the next chapter of Indian aviation by expanding reach, enhancing quality, and strengthening India’s position as a global travel hub.

Travel

Air India Cautions Flyers After Cyberattack Hits Check-In Systems

Tanisha Cardozo

A significant cyberattack on a third-party service provider has caused widespread disruption to check-in and boarding systems at major European airports, including London Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. The attack, which occurred late Friday night, forced automated systems offline, prompting airlines and airports to revert to manual processes, resulting in delays and potential cancellations.

In response, Air India issued a travel advisory on Saturday, urging passengers flying from London to complete their web check-in before arriving at the airport. The airline stated that its ground teams in London are working diligently to minimise passenger inconvenience.

The affected service provider, identified by London Heathrow Airport as Collins Aerospace, is a global company that manages passenger processing systems for multiple airlines across Europe. Heathrow acknowledged the disruption and assured passengers that extra staff had been deployed in check-in areas to assist travelers.

Brussels Airport also confirmed the cyberattack and warned that only manual check-in was currently possible. It advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to arrive at least two hours in advance for Schengen flights and three hours for international departures.

Berlin Airport echoed similar issues, reporting long wait times and delays due to a Europe-wide disruption in check-in systems. Authorities and the service provider are working on restoring systems, but no estimated time for resolution has been provided.

As airlines and airport authorities continue to assess the damage and work on restoring services, passengers are strongly advised to monitor flight updates and follow any guidance issued by their respective carriers.