Air India's Ambitious Revival Bid Under Tata

Once a symbol of aviation excellence, Air India saw its reputation tarnished after years of operational losses and subpar service. 

Now, the airline is going through a positive transformation under the Tata Group's leadership, which resumed control in October 2021. The airline's initial focus is to upgrade its aging fleet, and so far, it has added 36 leased aircraft, including 11 Boeing 777s and 25 Airbus A320s. This has allowed the airline to launch six new international routes and increase frequencies on 24 others.

Air India is also implementing an ambitious revitalization plan that involves acquiring 470 state-of-the-art Airbus and Boeing aircraft worth $70 billion. The aim is to achieve the most advanced and fuel-efficient fleet within five years.

To enhance the passenger experience, the company is introducing premium economy seats on selected long-haul flights and refreshing its food menus. These initiatives are part of a five-year capital-intensive turnaround strategy.

Despite making ambitious efforts, Air India still faces challenges in ensuring reliability and punctuality, which are crucial for their success. Along with infrastructure upgrades, the airline also needs to focus on overhauling its customer service to improve the overall experience of its passengers.

As we move ahead into 2024. Under Tata's guidance, Air India is making concerted efforts to align modern efficiencies with traditional Indian hospitality to reclaim its stature as a premier airline. Investors willing to take a long-term view of the airline’s performance could take a punt on its improvement through shares in its holding group, Tata.