A massive part of Air India’s transformation phase under the new ownership is retrofitting in-service aircraft with brand-new interiors, modern-day technology and the latest livery. That refurbishment activity is officially underway, with the first of the 67 jets lined up for a thorough overhaul entering the allotted hangar yesterday.

The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo bearing registration number VT-EXN, will receive new upholstery, carpets, curtains, and seats in a three-class configuration—8 seats in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy, and 132 in Economy. Once the single-aisle jet is back in service, likely in December 2024, travellers will get various creature comforts. In addition to USB Type A and Type C charging ports and personal electronic device (PED) holders, travellers in Business Class will have 40-inch seats with a 7-inch recline, adjustable armrest, footrest and backrest and a push-button deployable tray table.

Also Read: Air India Is Now Flying To Kuala Lumpur From Delhi

Those travelling in Premium Economy will get 32-inch seats with a 4-inch recline, PED holders and USB charging ports. Similarly, the Economy section will have 28-29-inch seats with a 4-inch recline, PED holders and charging ports.

The 67 jets that will receive the upgrade include 27 narrowbody and 40 widebody. The airline expects to overhaul 3 to 4 aircraft per month. That means the overhauling activity for the narrowbody jets will be finished by mid-2025. Air India says the first widebody jet should enter the hangar for the planned upgrade early next year. All in all, this will cost upwards of USD 400 million.

Further strengthening its network in Southeast Asia, Air India has begun direct services to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Delhi. The first outbound flight took off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport on September 15, 2024, and the return leg completed its journey earlier today.

Air India’s service between Delhi and Kuala Lumpur is a daily affair. Flight AI384 will depart from Delhi and arrive in Malaysia’s capital at 13:00 and 21:00, respectively. Those travelling the other way will board flight AI385, which will take off from Kuala Lumpur at 08:30 and land in Delhi at 11:25. An Airbus A320neo will ferry passengers on both sectors.

Kuala Lumpur is Air India’s sixth destination in Southeast Asia. The airline already has active services from India to Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon.

Also Read: Air India Confirms More Flights To Kolkata From Four Cities

The Belgian national airline, Brussels Airlines, has announced its plans to expand its long-haul fleet, invest in cabin refurbishment, and utilise the services of another carrier based on the recently extended wet lease agreement with Lufthansa Group.

Brussels Airlines claims to be the “Africa expert” within the Lufthansa Group. To further strengthen that position, the carrier will induct three Airbus A330 aircraft, bringing its widebody fleet to 13. This move will help the airline focus primarily on the increasing traffic from the sub-Saharan Africa network. The idea is to make Brussels a European hub for flights to and from Africa.

Of course, with the new aeroplanes coming in, more manpower will be required. Hence, Brussels Airlines will hire over 250 new employees, including pilots, cabin crew, maintenance & engineering experts, and airport and office personnel. This also paves the way for present airline staff to move to a different or higher role.

In addition to inducting new aircraft, the Belgian carrier plans to gradually introduce all-new cabin interiors. While specific details are still under wraps, a complete overhaul of all three classes – Business, Premium Economy and Economy – is part of the plan. The airline says this project will attract an investment of more than 100 million euros.

Lastly, Brussels Airlines will operate four Airbus A220-300 aircraft with Latvian carrier airBaltic between March and October 2025. Each aircraft has 148 seats, and they will be deployed on routes with lower demand.

Latvian national carrier airBaltic has announced extending a wet lease partnership with Lufthansa Group. Scheduled to start in the summer of 2025, the three-year extension will see airBaltic operate a set of scheduled flights on behalf of Lufthansa Group. To be a bit more specific, up to 21 airBaltic’s Airbus A220-300 narrowbody jets will operate on routes set by Lufthansa Group.

Here’s what Martin Gauss, president and CEO at airBaltic, said in an official release:

This partnership is an endorsement of our wet lease capabilities and reliability from a well-respected international brand like Lufthansa Group. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration over the coming years.

Earlier this month, airBaltic confirmed 16 new routes from three bases. Last month, it extended its order for new A220-300 aircraft, bringing the order book to 90.