Air India has enhanced its long-haul services between India and Australia by introducing its refurbished Boeing 777-300ER on the Delhi–Melbourne route, significantly upgrading the onboard experience while adding First Class to the service for the first time.Effective 1 July 2026, the upgraded Boeing 777-300ER replaced the previously operated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, marking a major increase in premium seating capacity and reinforcing the airline’s ongoing transformation into a world-class international carrier.The aircraft deployment reflects Air India’s broader strategy of modernising its fleet and enhancing customer experience across key international routes.
Significant increase in premium capacity
The refurbished Boeing 777-300ER is configured in a three-class layout featuring:8 First Class suites 40 fully flat Business Class seats280 Economy Class seatsThe upgrade represents a substantial expansion in premium capacity compared with the Boeing 787-8 previously serving the route, which offered 18 Business Class seats and 241 Economy Class seats.By introducing additional premium seating and upgraded cabin products, Air India aims to better serve growing demand from business travellers, premium leisure passengers and the Indian diaspora travelling between India and Australia.
First Class debuts on the Melbourne route
One of the most notable enhancements is the introduction of First Class on the Delhi–Melbourne service.Passengers travelling in the airline’s highest cabin will enjoy private suites featuring leather-upholstered seats that convert into fully flat beds, offering greater privacy, personalised service and an elevated dining experience throughout the journey.The addition of First Class positions the route among Air India’s premium long-haul offerings, catering to travellers seeking a more exclusive flying experience.
Upgraded Business and Economy experience
Business Class has also received a comprehensive upgrade, with fully flat beds designed to deliver improved comfort, additional personal space and enhanced privacy on ultra-long-haul flights.Passengers across all cabins will benefit from refreshed onboard services, including upgraded soft products and hospitality enhancements that align with Air India’s evolving international service standards.The airline has also introduced Wi-Fi connectivity on the Delhi–Melbourne route for the first time, enabling travellers to remain connected throughout their journey for work, communication and entertainment.
Enhanced dining and inflight entertainment
As part of the aircraft upgrade, Air India has refreshed its onboard culinary offering with menus featuring a combination of international cuisine and Indian favourites.Meals are complemented by an expanded selection of premium wines and spirits, while passengers can access an enriched inflight entertainment library featuring movies, television programmes, music and other digital content designed to appeal to international audiences.These enhancements form part of the airline’s broader effort to deliver a more consistent premium experience across its long-haul network.
Elevated experience from departure to arrival
The upgraded aircraft complements Air India’s ongoing investments in improving the overall customer journey both on the ground and in the air.Eligible premium passengers departing from Indira Gandhi International Airport can access the airline’s flagship Maharaja Lounge, offering upgraded dining, comfortable seating and premium pre-flight services before boarding.Together with the refurbished cabin interiors, these initiatives reflect Air India’s commitment to providing a seamless travel experience across every stage of the journey.
Strengthening India–Australia connectivity
Australia continues to be one of Air India’s most strategically important long-haul markets, driven by growing business links, tourism demand, international education and the large Indian community residing across the country.The airline currently operates four weekly non-stop flights between Delhi and Melbourne and plans to increase the service to daily operations from 1 September 2026.The Delhi hub also provides convenient same-terminal connections to numerous European destinations, including Heathrow Airport, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Milan and Zurich, enabling smoother onward travel between Australia, India and Europe.In addition to Melbourne, Air India also operates non-stop services between Delhi and Sydney, further strengthening connectivity between Australia, India and key European destinations.The deployment of the upgraded Boeing 777-300ER on the Melbourne route marks another milestone in Air India’s fleet renewal programme, underscoring the airline’s ambition to deliver internationally competitive products while expanding premium travel options across its global network.
