Air India is embracing its heritage with a fresh new livery. On August 10, the airline revealed a new look that’s full of Indian tradition. This new design will be seen across the fleet, starting with the delivery of the first Airbus A350-900 in December.
The dominant color of the new scheme is white, with the Air India wordmark in bold red taking up a large part of the fuselage. The ‘A’ in the design is inspired by the hero window frame, which is also evident on the vertical tailfin in red, gold, and aubergine/purple. The Jaali pattern in the red section is inspired by the chakra from the original Air India logo, and the hero window frames return on the inside of the wingtips, while the outside is gold.
The tail of the plane is particularly eye-catching, with a mixture of golden window edges, iconic red, and purple from Vistara. The rest of the plane also uses this color scheme, with red wingtips and gold accents on the belly.
A New Era for the Airline
This new livery marks the real beginning of a new era for Air India, which Tata Sons acquired in January 2022. The new owners are clearly serious about rebuilding the airline, as seen in the new management under CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson. In the spring, Air India placed orders for 470 narrowbodies and widebodies with Airbus and Boeing, as confirmed at the Paris Airshow. Wilson later invited selected media to the Taj Palace in New Delhi for the livery reveal.
The new logo is a mix of old and new, retaining the color palette but modernizing the look. It’s a good reflection of Air India, which was previously owned by Tata as well. The design stays true to its Indian roots, redrawing the traditional ‘jharokha’ design found on all windows of current aircraft for the new Vista logo.
Exciting Plans Ahead
Air India is not just stopping with a new look. The first of six ex-Aeroflot A350-900s is currently being prepared for delivery to Air India and has recently started flight tests. These planes have been in storage since early 2022 due to trade sanctions imposed on Russia. They are now in plain white, getting ready to receive the new livery in the coming months.
Campbell Wilson also shared some other exciting updates. Starting in the second half of 2024, Air India will introduce a full retrofit of its cabins on the Boeing 777-300ER. This will include a new First Class, Business Class suite, Premium Economy, and refreshed Economy Class. Plus, the carrier will launch a new loyalty program by the end of the year. And fans of the Maharaja, Air India’s mascot since 1946, will be happy to know that he’s staying, although he’s getting a makeover too.
Air India’s new livery and future plans show a strong commitment to growth and innovation while honoring its rich heritage. The airline is taking bold steps to modernize and expand, and passengers can look forward to an enhanced flying experience with Air India in the coming years.
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