Air India will deploy its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft featuring upgraded cabin interiors on flights between Delhi and Melbourne starting July 1, replacing the existing Boeing 787-8. This marks a significant enhancement in premium seat capacity, comfort, and on-board experience, including the introduction of First Class on the route.
Three-class configuration and capacity boost
The upgraded Boeing 777-300ER is configured in a three-class layout with 8 First Class suites, 40 fully flat Business Class beds, and 280 Economy Class seats. This represents a substantial increase in premium capacity compared to the existing B787-8, which features 28 Business Class and 241 Economy Class seats, according to an official release.
Enhanced passenger experience
Passengers on the Delhi-Melbourne route will benefit from luxurious private suites in First Class with leather-upholstered seats that convert into fully flat beds, privacy doors, an elevated on-ground and dining experience, and personalised service. The significantly upgraded Business Class product offers fully flat beds with enhanced comfort, space, and privacy, alongside improved soft product elements.
Wi-Fi internet connectivity is introduced on this route for the first time, enabling guests to stay connected with work or loved ones throughout their flight. The refreshed food and beverage offering includes thoughtfully curated menus featuring global cuisine alongside Indian favourites, complemented by a selection of premium wines and spirits. Enhanced inflight entertainment provides a richer and more diverse content library across movies, TV shows, music, and more, catering to global tastes.
Broader investments and connectivity
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 September 1, 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.
