Passengers flying with Air India to and from Australia are benefiting from an improved in-flight product, while additional frequencies are being introduced on the airline’s Melbourne and Sydney routes to and from Delhi in response to strong demand.
Despite years of courting by the WA Government and Perth Airport, Air India is yet to commit to direct services to Perth, but Manish Puri, global head of sales, says the airline would like to add more Australian destinations as its fleet upgrade progresses, as Australia is a key market.
“When we ordered 90 new widebodies, three major continents were in our plans — the United States, Australia and Europe. We knew there would be huge opportunities to Europe and Australia,” he says.
The airline’s fleet redevelopment time line has shifted, however, due to post-COVID aerospace supply chain issues resulting in aircraft delivery delays.
“How and when is not decided, but once our new widebodies are inducted, we would like to add more destinations here (Australia),” he says, without directly naming Perth.
In September, Perth Airport chief commercial and aviation officer Kate Holsgrove was part of Premier Roger Cook’s investment and trade mission to India and Vietnam, with meetings held with major Indian airlines as the WA Government prioritises future direct flights.
“India is a priority growth market, underpinned by strong economic ties, WA’s growing Indian community, and expanding trade, tourism and education links,” a spokesperson for Perth Airport says.
Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo has expressed its interest in Perth but, like Air India, has faced aircraft delivery delays which have affected expansion plans. The spokesperson says Perth Airport will continue to discuss the potential for direct routes between India and Perth with airlines.
Air India is in the final stage of a five-year, three-phase transformation program, aimed at creating an airline with a robust global network, with three times the fleet size of 2022 and a 30 per cent-plus market share. The first and second phases focused on fixing the basics and building foundations for growth, while the final phase targets excellence in operations and customer experience.
As part of its transformation, the airline ordered 600 new Airbus and Boeing narrowbody and widebody aircraft and committed to retrofitting its legacy fleet. Deliveries are ramping up, with more than 100 new aircraft to join the fleet over the next two years, with the Air India Group — Air India and low-cost carrier Air India Express — to have a total fleet of 400-plus by the end of 2028, Mr Puri says.
The retrofit of legacy aircraft with modern interiors is well under way, including its Boeing 777-300ERs and Boeing 787-8s. Since July, Melbourne passengers have experienced the upgraded product on the 777-300ER, with the aircraft featuring eight first class private suites, 40 business class seats with fully-flat beds, and 280 seats in economy. Sydney passengers, currently served by the 787-8, will gain the upgraded product in the first quarter of next year.
Australia is a key market for Air India, with strong and sustained demand, and high demand for premium cabins, Mr Puri says.
As a result, the airline is increasing Melbourne and Sydney frequencies from daily to 11 weekly services. The airline claims a 30 per cent share of business class traffic and a 24 per cent overall market share on the routes.
Almost 35 per cent of traffic from Australia is travelling beyond Delhi, with passengers now benefiting from the Easy Connect initiative which means passengers no longer have to collect baggage and complete immigration and check-in for onward connections at Delhi.
This is a “big game changer” for India and passengers, says Mr Puri, saying previously many passengers travelling beyond Delhi would use other airlines. Following the launch of Easy Connect for Amritsar, for example, Mr Puri says Air India’s market share on the Melbourne-Amritsar route increased from 32 per cent to 55 per cent.
