In August 2023, Air India embarked on a visual transformation with its new look. Since then, a number of aircraft have been delivered to Air India, with the first one to be painted in the new livery being the airline’s first A350-900. This is a significant change for Air India, with the first A320neo in this transition from the old to the new livery. The new livery was spotted in the Airbus paint shop only in May 2024.

Air India receives its first A320neo aircraft in the new livery.

As of now, Air India has welcomed 19 A320neos in the old paint scheme, each distinguishable by their unique tail sign VT-RT*. However, the airline has now initiated the transition to the new paint scheme, with the first aircraft spotted in May 2024. In a nod to the Tata Group Chairman Emeritus, Ratan Tata, the tail sign of this aircraft was designated as VT-RTN.

On July 7, 2024, Air India welcomed its first narrowbody aircraft in the new livery. The Airbus A320neo, registered as VT-RTN, made its flight to New Delhi’s IGI Airport, having flown from the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse, France.

The A320neo aircraft will first be retrofitted in the new three-class configuration: 8 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats with extra legroom, and 132 Economy Class seats. The introduction of Premium Economy cabins on narrow-body aircraft is a first for Air India. This aircraft is expected to enter service in August 2024, operating on domestic short-haul routes. Three A320neo aircraft in three-class configurations with the old Air India livery have already started operating in the domestic network.

Here is a look at what to expect inside the aircraft when it is put into service.

Bottomline

Air India has just flown into India its first Airbus A320neo bearing the new livery, registered VT-RTN. The aircraft will join the operational fleet in August 2024 after a retrofit of the three-cabin setup that all Air India narrowbody aircraft will have in the future.

What do you think of Air India’s new livery on the Airbus A320neo?

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