In 2023, Air India announced it would refurbish its lounges in Delhi and New York. The lounges are dated and have not been refurbished for a long time. With the arrival of the Tata Group, the airline has upgraded the amenities at its Delhi Domestic T3 lounge. Still, the New York lounge has been the subject of discussion in the Western traveller communities, and most of what I’ve heard is not favourable (the lounge participates in the Priority Pass network at New York JFK). I’ve personally been to the lounge, and it badly deserves an upgrade.
Air India appointed Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) of Singapore Airlines’ Lounges fame to refurbish Air India lounges at Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and Terminal 4 of JFK Airport in New York. The Air India International Lounge in Delhi is currently closed for renovation.
Air India’s Terminal 3 International Lounge under renovation at Delhi IGI Airport (Picture: July 2025, Copyright: LiveFromALounge.com)
The Lounge seems closer to completion now. This is an image from a week ago, which I clicked on my way out to the Dubai Airshow. The covers seem to be coming off.
Air India’s Terminal 3 International Lounge under renovation at Delhi IGI Airport (Picture: November 2025, Copyright: LiveFromALounge.com)
Air India expects to launch the lounge in December 2025
Air India has stated that the lounge will be operational in December 2025. This was a statement made by the CEO recently at a media interaction. People in the know also have a date, around December 14/15. I’m not so sure. But we will see! Here are the first renders of the lounge shared by the airline.
Air India Lounge (International) Delhi Terminal 3 Render (courtesy Air India)
Air India Domestic Lounge at Delhi Terminal 3 will come up in H2 2025
The CEO also discussed something we already knew. The Domestic end of the lounge will come up. However, Air India is contemplating relocating its domestic lounge, according to people in the know, so it is expected to be moved closer to the gates rather than its current mezzanine-floor location, unless a new agreement has been reached due to the airport changing its piers for the time being. Work on it will only start after the international lounge goes live.
The reason I’m not letting out the new location is that I’m still scratching my head over whether a 100-seater lounge can fit there.
Air India Lounge at San Francisco International Airport is expected to go live in H1 2026
Air India is also working to launch its second international lounge at San Francisco International Airport. We first reported on this exclusively in July 2024, before the CEO’s confirmation. Although the airline has not shared a specific timeline, I had anticipated that the lounge would be operational sometime in 2025. 2025 will also mark the tenth anniversary of Air India’s operations in San Francisco. Anyhow, Campbell says this will be ready by February 2026.
The lounge will be located adjacent to Gate A1 at the International Terminal, situated between the China Airlines and Golden Gate lounges on the Fourth Floor.
The Build Group is constructing the lounge for USD 3.5 million. A new factsheet has appeared on their website, which also includes a picture/render of the lounge as it is expected to look.
It will be a small lounge, at 3400 square feet, but it looks impressive from the render.
What about the New York JFK Lounge?
Air India’s New York JFK Lounge is a dump, and everyone says the same thing. Compared to the Capital One and Delta Lounges in the same terminal, this lounge deeply smells of a curry overhang. I was surprised when I visited the lounge in September 2025 and saw nothing had changed. Not One Single Thing. The CEO speaks of a refresh, which basically means a new coat of paint.
Air India’s New York JFK Terminal 4 Lounge (Picture: LiveFromALounge.com Archives)
The perspective Air India has on delaying the New York JFK refurbishment is that the airline is still examining its options on the terminals it will use from New York JFK in the years ahead. The airline is moving towards New York Terminal 1, which is currently under construction.
Where else is Air India planning lounges?
Lots of places. In India, Air India now has lounges at Bengaluru and Delhi, and is also working with Mumbai Airport to open a lounge at Terminal 2. The other places Air India is planning lounges include London Heathrow, Dubai and Paris (maybe).
Bottomline
Air India’s New Delhi Lounge is almost ready for opening and should be live before the end of the year. The Delhi Domestic Lounge will be operationalised next year and so will be the San Francisco Lounge. The New York Lounge will be “refreshed” because Air India might want to move terminals. What else? Dubai, London and maybe even Paris will get their own Air India Lounges.
What do you make of Air India’s Lounge strategy, and where do you think they will target opening a lounge next?
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