The Five Most Luxurious Planes in Air India’s Fleet
Air India is a commercial air carrier operated as a subsidiary of Air India, Limited. This is a government-owned entity that specializes in providing air travel from India to several other destinations around the world. The airline has been in operation for many decades, even dating all the way back to the second World War. Over the years, a number of different aircraft have been used. Perhaps the thing that surprises most people is that throughout the decades of operation, this airline has gone from a rather grassroots level to providing some of the more luxurious airliners in operation. If you want to know more about five of the best and most luxurious aircraft in its fleet, keep reading. You’re likely to be surprised at some of the aircraft you find listed here.
1. Boeing 747-400
Granted, this is an aircraft that isn’t considered as popular today as it once was. Make no mistake about it, there was a time when the Boeing 747 was considered the “queen of the skies” and there was no aircraft that was better, more reliable or more luxurious. It’s an exceptionally large aircraft that is capable of seating well over 300 people in both the lower and upper deck. The aircraft can be configured several different ways, and some of them have elaborate staircases along with bars and virtually anything else you can imagine. While this is an aircraft that is systematically being phased out in most parts of the world, it’s still widely used by Air India. As a matter of fact, the airline still considers it to be one of the flagship aircraft of its fleet, largely because the airline that exists today was built around this very aircraft. Since this was an airplane that was capable of transforming the airline itself, Air India has continued to order new Boeing 747s when most other air carriers have chosen to go with models that are more cost-effective to operate.
2. Boeing 777
This aircraft is smaller than the 747, but it’s definitely not what many people consider a small aircraft when it’s all said and done. The biggest difference is that it doesn’t have an upper deck. It also incorporates a narrower fuselage, or body, than the widebody 747. This is an aircraft that can travel almost as far as the 747 on about two-thirds of the fuel, making it more cost-effective from an operational standpoint. Fortunately, the aircraft can be outfitted to the specifications of each customer and Air India has decided to make the airplane as roomy and luxurious as any 777 you’re ever likely to find.
3. Boeing 787
An even newer model to the Boeing Fleet is the 787. This aircraft is a little smaller than the 777, but it incorporates plenty of luxury. As a matter of fact, the 787s that are in service with Air India exhibit the epitome of luxury when it comes to flying on virtually any Boeing airliner. This is largely because the airline made the decision to incorporate some additional features for comfort such as more legroom and a more luxurious finishing touch. After you fly in one of these airliners, you realize that most of the other air carriers around the world could learn a thing or two from Air India and the Boeing 787.
4. Airbus A320
By all accounts, the A320 was supposed to be the Airbus answer to the Boeing 747. It’s a massive aircraft that has both a lower and upper deck that runs the entire length of the fuselage. It’s hard to find an aircraft that’s actually bigger than the 747, but this one manages to get the job done. Most people consider it to be more luxurious than it’s Boeing competitor, although there are a few die-hard fans that are simply in love with the Boeing 747. As such, some people have been slow to warm up to the A320 but a single flight on the aircraft usually remedies that problem.
5. Airbus A319
After Airbus introduced the A320, they decided that they needed to bring another aircraft into the fleet that was smaller and more fuel efficient without giving up luxury. As such, the A319 was born. Air India incorporates both aircraft into its fleet, ensuring that customers have a versatile line of aircraft and that they’re not sacrificing comfort under any circumstances.