GURUGRAM- Air India (AI), under Tata ownership, has been rated 7.4 out of 10 and secured the fourth position in a recent survey evaluating airlines with subpar business class offerings.
Conducted by UK-based agency Bounce, the survey assessed global airlines based on factors like cabin and seat comfort, inflight service, entertainment, and amenities to identify the least favorable choices for business-class travelers.
Air India Business Class Ranking
In the rankings, Air India received a score of 7.4 out of 10, making it the fourth-worst airline globally for business class. The top three positions were occupied by EgyptAir (5.71), Copa Airlines (6.71), and Kuwait Airways (7).
The survey highlighted Air India’s business-class cabin seats as a major concern, earning a score of 6/10. Other aspects of services, including inflight entertainment, cuisine, airport experience, and beverages, received a score of 7/10.
It’s noteworthy that Air India is currently in a ‘work in progress’ mode, undertaking upgrades across all its aircraft types. This initiative involves the installation of new seats in all classes, signaling a commitment to enhancing the overall passenger experience.
Recently, I myself experienced its new product on a brand new Airbus A350, but the interiors belong to Aeroflot, and the Indian airline has made soft upgrades to it. However, we will see similar products across its fleet in the coming months.
Air India’s A350 aircraft features state-of-the-art viewing with a flexible and modular architecture, elegant design, and cabin-wide full-HD 1080p monitors. Business class guests enjoy a large 21-inch HD touchscreen, while Premium Economy and Economy guests have 13.3-inch and 12-inch HD touchscreens, respectively.
Air India is currently in the process of upgrading 40 legacy Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft to a uniform standard, involving a comprehensive replacement of seats and entertainment systems.
This overhaul is scheduled to commence in July 2024. Simultaneously, the airline is embarking on the upgrade of 41 A320 aircraft.
Tata Takeover and Makeover
In addition to these initiatives, Air India has partnered with Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), a globally recognized hospitality interior design firm, for the refurbishment of Air India lounges.
Regarding the methodology used for the rankings, Bounce explained, “For each airline, we looked at reviews from BusinessClass.com (a travel search engine), which gives each airline a score out of ten on factors such as airport experience, cabin and seat cuisine, beverages, service, entertainment amenities, and facilities… reviews were available taking an average of all seven scores for each airline.”
The agency also evaluated the top business class facilities provided by airlines, with Singapore Airlines leading the list with a score of 9.57 out of 10, followed by Qatar Airways (9.43) and Oman Air (9.29).
In terms of business-class services at airports, London’s Heathrow Airport secured the top position with a score of 7.60 out of 10.
Qatar’s Hamad International Airport claimed the second spot with a score of 7.09, and Germany’s Munich Airport was ranked third with a score of 6.99.
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