The airline said that the flights will offer convenient daytime departures in both directions. The services will provide seamless connections via Delhi, making it easier for passengers travelling to and from various cities in India, as well as international destinations in North America, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
Currently, Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express, do not have regular services to Prayagraj. To supplement this, SpiceJet had earlier announced its own special daily flights connecting Prayagraj with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad for the duration of the Maha Kumbh. The services will operate from January 12 to February 28. Additionally, IndiGo and Akasa Air have also started flights to Prayagraj from various cities.
Air India to introduce first class on A350-1000 aircraft
Meanwhile, Air India revealed plans to introduce first class seats on its large wide-body A350-1000 aircraft. This move aligns with the airline’s strategy to enhance its global offering and increase its share of international markets. According to Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nipun Aggarwal, first class remains a vital product on prominent long-haul routes, with many leading airlines continuing to develop next-generation first-class products.
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He said, “First class is not a product that is going away. Many top airlines are building their next-generation first-class products. We do feel that there are some opportunities in our network where that product will work well.”
Air India’s current fleet comprises 202 aircraft, including 67 wide-body planes, with 27 B777s and 40 B787s among them. Some of these wide-body planes, including legacy B777s and leased B777s, are equipped with first class seats. Aggarwal further commented, “To compete with the best airlines, you need to have first class. It is an aspirational product that defines how you run and build an airline.”
The A350-1000 aircraft, which will be fitted with first-class cabins, are set to be inducted into the fleet over the next few years. These large wide-body aircraft are expected to have between 325 and 400 seats. The first A350-1000 is expected to join the fleet within the next two years.
“Having a first class product is important as it elevates the airline. It will primarily serve mega cities like London and New York, which are strong first class markets. Even with a private jet, you cannot fly to the US without a stopover, but with first class, you can fly direct and reach faster,” Aggarwal explained.
Also read | Maha Kumbh 2025: Flights to Prayagraj still reasonably priced if you book for February — check average rates
As part of its ongoing efforts to modernise and expand its fleet, Air India is also retrofitting its wide-body aircraft. The retrofit of its Boeing 787s will begin this year, and the 27 legacy Airbus A320 Neos are expected to complete their retrofit by mid-2025. The upgrades will ensure that Air India’s narrow-body aircraft, which currently serve around 80% of its passengers, will also feature modern, updated interiors and improved product offerings by the second half of 2025.
Aggarwal noted, “Almost all of our narrow-body planes, which serve the majority of our customers, will receive a new, retrofitted, and modern product.”
Air India currently serves approximately 63 million passengers annually, with most of them flying on domestic or short-haul international routes. The fleet expansion, along with the introduction of first class on its A350-1000 aircraft, underscores the airline’s commitment to enhancing its competitive edge in the global aviation market.
