Air India unveils custom styled cabin interiors for 'Boeing 787-9'

Bearing registration mark VT-AWA, the new aircraft features completely new cabin interiors, designed especially for Air India and installed directly on Boeing's production line, Air India said in a statement.

Air India received delivery of the new aircraft on January 11, 2026, arriving in Delhi non-stop from Boeing’s factory in Everett, Washington. The aircraft is entering commercial service on flights between Mumbai and Frankfurt from February 1, 2026, the statement said.

"The arrival of this new Boeing 787-9, the first production widebody from the 470 aircraft-strong order signed three years ago, is a significant moment in Air India’s 5-year Vihaan.AI transformation programme, " Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said.

"Though nearly 100 new and leased aircraft have already joined the Air India group’s fleet since privatisation, this is the first to be designed by and for Air India. It underscores Air India's commitment to delivering a world-class physical product and inflight entertainment experience to complement the warm Indian hospitality already delivered by our crew, " he said.

“The new cabin interiors on this aircraft will soon become the standard across our entire Boeing 787 fleet as, in addition to 19 more production aircraft, all 26 of Air India’s existing Boeing 787-8 aircraft are being retrofitted with the same new cabin interiors and entertainment systems. The retrofit programme is well underway, with the first upgraded aircraft due to return to service in the coming weeks and the remainder of the fleet by mid-2027, " he said.

All-new cabin interiors :

Air India’s new Boeing 787-9 aircraft comes with 296 seats distributed between three cabin classes: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.

The Business Class cabin consists of 30 luxurious suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, offering direct aisle access to every passenger.

Each suite, featuring a sliding privacy door, but at present it is not available for passengers as yet to get regulatory approval for it.

Other features including each suite reclines into a fully flat bed of 79 inches in length or a chaise lounge, and offers 42” of pitch, 17-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen and IFE handset, Bluetooth headphone pairing, wireless charging and Type A and Type C fast charging ports, height-adjustable armrest, as well as of storage.

Each suite features cubby area that offers storage space with soft lighting inside, a vanity mirror and headphone hook, and a feature lamp designed with Air India’s jaali pattern that is inspired by India’s rich architectural and cultural heritage.

Premium Economy - a dedicated, upscale cabin offering greater privacy - features 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, designed for enhanced long-haul comfort. Each seat offers generous legroom with 38-inch pitch and 7-inch recline, 6-way adjustable headrest, individually adjustable calf rest as well as a leg rest, 13.3-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen, Type A and Type C fast charging ports, and a bottle holder.

Economy Class features 238 lightweight and ergonomically optimised seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, each offering the standard 31”/32” pitch and 5” recline, an 11.6-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreen, and Type A and C charging ports. Of the 238 seats in Economy, Air India has made 220 seats available in its booking inventory for flights operated with this new aircraft.

A new design standard :

Air India has styled the interiors of the new B787-9 aircraft, including seats, galleys, lavatories, flight crew rest area, side panels, laminates, etc, the statement said.

The cabins feature a harmonious palette of soft creams, pinks, reds, warm golds, and rich purples, complemented by tactile materials inspired by natural textures and modern craftsmanship.

Mood lighting inspired by ancient Indian wellness traditions:

On board the new B787-9 aircraft, Air India has introduced a unique mood lighting systems, developed in collaboration with Tata Elxsi. It draws inspiration from India’s rich heritage in wellness and the ancient concept of chakras – viewed in traditional philosophy as vital energy centres in the human body that support physical, mental, and emotional balance. The new mood lighting offers 10 custom scenes designed to align with passengers’ circadian rhythms and aid melatonin regulation, enhancing wellbeing on long-haul flights, the statement said.