Air India announced on Wednesday that it has become the first airline in India to offer in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity on domestic flights. Passengers aboard Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9, and select Airbus A321neo aircraft will be able to browse, check social media, work, or text their loved ones while soaring above 10,000 feet, the Tata-owned airline said.
“Connectivity has become an integral part of modern travel. For some, it’s about the convenience and comfort of real-time sharing, while for others, it’s about greater productivity and efficiency. Whatever the purpose, we are confident that our guests will appreciate the option of connecting to the web and enjoying the new Air India experience aboard these aircraft,” said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Air India.
The in-flight Wi-Fi service will be accessible on Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones running iOS or Android operating systems. Passengers will also be able to connect multiple devices simultaneously once the aircraft reaches an altitude of 10,000 feet.
The rollout of Wi-Fi on domestic routes follows a pilot program that began on international flights operated by the Airbus A350, select Airbus A321neo, and Boeing B787-9 aircraft serving destinations including New York, London, Paris, and Singapore. As with the domestic offering, Wi-Fi will be complimentary for an introductory period. Air India plans to progressively expand the service to other aircraft in its fleet over time.
In December, Air India confirmed that it had placed an order for 100 additional Airbus aircraft, comprising 10 widebody A350s and 90 narrowbody A320-family aircraft, including A321neo. These 100 aircraft are in addition to the firm orders of 470 aircraft Air India had placed with Airbus and Boeing last year.
The latest order brings the total number of Airbus aircraft ordered by Air India in 2023 to 350, including 40 A350s and 210 A320-family aircraft. Additionally, Air India has selected Airbus’ Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) program to support the maintenance needs of its growing A350 fleet.
