The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has given a nod to modify the interiors of Air India aircraft.
How Did This Happen?
It appears that Air India in-house seeks to undergo a grooming to offer modern in-cabin features while it merges with Vistara.
In this regard, the airline has received the Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) designated as CAR 21 approval.
Further, the airline noted that this is , “A significant milestone, this will enable Air India to independently make design changes in-house and implement modifications to its aircraft interiors more efficiently,” in a release.
This approval holds a great significance as this Tata-owned airline becomes the first airline in India to achieve this level of authorisation.
This further enhances the airline’s capability to perform restoration tasks for continuous fleet improvement, the airline said.
The DGCA handed over this approval to Air India’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson by D.C. Sharma, Director General, DGCA on 25 October 2024 in the presence of other senior officials of Air India and DGCA.
On this occasion, Wilson said, “India’s aviation sector is on a growth trajectory and Air India is playing a leading role in it. The approval reaffirms our capabilities to maintain our fleet and commitment to enhance customer experience of our aircraft interiors. The collaboration with Tata Technologies will help us meet customer expectations, aligning with our broader goals of operational excellence and self-reliance.”
A Significant Step
This partnership marked a significant step forward in redefining air travel experiences through innovation and strategic engineering, said Warren Harris, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Technologies.
Further adding that by utilizing their global aerospace expertise, Tata Technologies was committed to delivering next-generation aircraft interiors that would not only meet the highest standards of functionality and safety but also enhance customer satisfaction.
According to him, the collaboration demonstrated their dedication to engineering a better world and advancing the Indian aviation sector.
Prior to this, the airline said that Air India has launched a $400 million refurbishment programme to overhaul 67 of its older aircraft while it seeks to grow into a world-class airline, during September.
The company is planning to commence this program with Tata-owned 27 narrow-body Airbus A320neo planes, followed by 40 wide-body Boeing aircraft.
This appears to be a part of the former state-run carrier’s multi-million dollar transformation as it needs to meet the demands of a market where customers are increasingly favoring premium options.
With phased revamp, the airline aims to introduce the new Air India experience, featuring a modern three-cabin layout with updated seats, carpets, curtains, and upholstery, the company said in a release.
