Following the integration of Vistara earlier this month, Air India announced an optimisation of its domestic route network that will prioritise deployment of its best narrowbody cabin products on five key metro-to-metro routes, beginning 01 December 2024. 

This will see all¹flights between the following metro cities operated with erstwhile Vistara A320-series  aircraft offering Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class:

1. Delhi and Mumbai
2. Delhi and Bengaluru
3. Delhi and Hyderabad
4. Mumbai and Bengaluru
5. Mumbai and Hyderabad

Such flights will operate with ‘AI’-prefixed four-digit flight numbers beginning with ‘2’, such as AI2999  from Delhi to Mumbai.

Air India will also optimise flight schedules so that flight departures are spread out throughout the day,  without reducing frequency. Air India now offers more than 1,000 weekly flights (round trips) on these  key routes: 56x daily on Delhi-Mumbai, 36x daily on Delhi-Bengaluru, 24x daily on Delhi-Hyderabad, 22x  daily on Mumbai-Bengaluru, and 18x daily on Mumbai-Hyderabad.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “The merger of Vistara  into Air India has unlocked many new opportunities to improve our customer offering. By combining the  strengths of both full-service carriers, we are able to consolidate our best narrowbody offering on routes  where there is desire for a high-frequency, full-service product. We will progressively expand the  coverage to more routes as Air India inducts new aircraft and completes the retrofit of our legacy  narrowbody fleet during 2025.”

Air India’s aircraft on the five key metro-metro routes feature 8 luxurious seats in Business Class, each  offering 41-inches of pitch, 7-inches of recline, leg rest and footrest; 24 extra legroom seats in a dedicated,  upscale Premium Economy Class cabin, with each seat offering 33-inches of pitch and 4-inches of recline;  and 132 comfortable seats in Economy with 29-inches of standard pitch in the cabin and 3-inches of  recline.

Travellers can expect a world-class, full-service flying experience on Air India’s metro-to-metro routes.  This includes award winning cabin interiors, complimentary hot meals, lounge access for premium guests at all major airports, the choice of convenient flight connections to destinations across five continents, and  service delivered to the exacting standards of the new Air India.

Air India’s optimised domestic route network will be progressively visible across booking channels including Air India’s official website, mobile app, and through authorised travel agents and partners.