Air India has unveiled a new collection of amenity kits and loungewear for international travellers, bringing together Indian art, traditional craftsmanship and wellness-inspired products to enhance the onboard experience. Launching from October 2026, the collection has been developed in collaboration with Forest Essentials and combines contemporary design with elements of India's cultural heritage.

The new amenity kits and loungewear will be available on flights exceeding eight hours and overnight flights lasting more than six hours. The collection includes specially designed kits for First Class and Business Class, along with a refreshed amenity kit for Premium Economy passengers.

First Class Amenity Kits Inspired by Gond Art

Air India's First Class amenity kits form part of The Art of Flight collection, featuring original artwork created exclusively for the airline by renowned Gond artist Dwarka Paraste. Inspired by nature, movement and discovery, the designs bring the traditional Indian art form into the onboard experience.

The kits feature different colours for outbound and inbound journeys. Ivory Cream kits will be offered on flights departing India, while Antique White kits will be available on flights arriving in the country. The artwork and colour palette will be refreshed every six months, allowing the kits to develop into a collectible series over time.

The amenity kits include a curated selection of Ayurvedic-inspired skincare and fragrance products from Forest Essentials, presented in a satin pouch. First Class guests will receive a Light Day Lotion with SPF 30, Facial Tonic Mist, Lip Cream, Ultra-Rich Body Milk and intense perfume. Travel essentials such as socks, an eye mask, ear plugs, a dental kit and a hair tie are also included, alongside a story card explaining the artwork and its inspiration.

Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India, said, “At Air India, every element of the journey is an opportunity to make our guests feel cared for, comfortable and connected to the warmth of India. Our new amenity kits and loungewear have been thoughtfully designed to go beyond functionality, weaving together India's rich traditions of art, craftsmanship and wellness with the expectations of the modern global traveller. From Gond art and the colours of the Navratna to Kullu weaving and Ayurvedic wellbeing, these collections tell uniquely Indian stories while elevating the onboard experience. As we continue to transform Air India into a world-class global airline, we are creating experiences that allow guests to take a meaningful piece of India with them wherever they travel.”

Navratna Collection for Business Class

Business Class passengers will receive amenity kits from the Navratna Collection, inspired by the nine gems of Indian tradition. The collection uses nine distinctive colours, with Coral kits offered on flights departing India and Ruby kits on inbound flights.

Presented in a Jharoka-shaped bag made from premium PU leather, the kits contain Forest Essentials Lip Cream, Ultra-Rich Body Milk and intense perfume in a satin pouch. Additional essentials include socks, an eye mask, ear plugs, a dental kit and a hair tie, along with a story card explaining the collection's inspiration.

Ayurvedic Marma Massager Adds a Wellness Touch

A distinctive feature across both First and Business Class amenity kits is a handcrafted Ayurvedic Marma massager, described by Air India as a first-of-its-kind inclusion in an airline amenity kit.

Made from 100% natural wood, the massager draws inspiration from the Ayurvedic practice of stimulating Marma points to encourage relaxation and wellbeing. A dedicated story card introduces guests to the tradition, adding a wellness-focused element to the long-haul travel experience.

Premium Economy Receives Refreshed Amenities

Premium Economy passengers will receive a practical, reusable Air India-branded amenity bag containing a hand cream and lip balm from The Indian Apothecary. Socks, an eye mask and a story card complete the kit, combining everyday travel essentials with a design intended for use beyond the flight.

Loungewear Inspired by Himachal Pradesh's Kullu Craft

Alongside the amenity kits, Air India is introducing new loungewear for First and Business Class passengers, drawing inspiration from Himachal Pradesh's Kullu shawl-weaving tradition. The gender-neutral collection incorporates the craft's distinctive geometric motifs through subtle woven detailing on a contemporary Henley-style top and matching bottoms. Designed in a soft, comfortable fabric for long-haul journeys, the range features understated Air India branding and a relaxed silhouette.

Available in four sizes, including a newly introduced XXL, each set comes in a bespoke carry bag with a story card celebrating the Kullu tradition. Air India has also changed the colour of its carpet slippers from grey to beige to complement the loungewear's colour palette.

Through these additions, Air India aims to bring Indian artistry, wellness traditions and textile heritage into its international travel experience. By combining traditional influences with contemporary design and practical amenities, the airline is creating onboard offerings that reflect its identity as a global carrier with an Indian heart.

Air India Express has been recognised among India's top four brand movers in October 2026 in the latest YouGov BrandIndex rankings, reflecting improvements in consumer perception and growing confidence in the airline. The monthly rankings track consumer perceptions of more than 500 brands in India, identifying those that record significant gains across key brand performance measures.

The airline registered improvements across five metrics: Buzz, Reputation, Recommend, Consideration and Current Customer. These measures reflect different aspects of consumer awareness, brand reputation, willingness to recommend a brand, purchase consideration and perceptions among existing customers.

The recognition comes as Air India Express continues to strengthen its market position through network expansion, fleet modernisation and initiatives focused on customer experience. The airline has reported a significant improvement in its Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures customers' willingness to recommend its services, indicating progress in guest satisfaction and advocacy.

Fleet modernisation is another key part of the airline's growth strategy, with more than two-thirds of its fleet now comprising brand-new aircraft.

Air India Express has also introduced initiatives that highlight its brand identity and connection with India's cultural diversity. Its Tales of India aircraft tail art programme showcases elements of Indian art and culture, while Gourmair, the airline's inflight dining experience, features food inspired by the country's diverse culinary traditions. These initiatives form part of its efforts to create a distinctive travel experience for passengers.

Largest-Ever Winter Schedule Takes Off

The brand recognition coincides with the launch of Air India Express's largest-ever winter schedule, which commenced on 25 October 2026. The airline plans to progressively scale its operations to approximately 585 daily flights, including around 435 domestic and up to 150 international departures.

The expanded schedule will be supported by a fleet of more than 105 aircraft, strengthening connectivity across India and key international markets in South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia.

The increased flight operations are expected to provide passengers with more travel options and improved connectivity across the airline's network. The expansion also supports Air India Express's broader focus on serving growing demand for domestic and international travel.

With improvements in brand perception, continued fleet modernisation and an expanding flight network, Air India Express is working to strengthen its position in India's competitive aviation market. Its latest YouGov BrandIndex recognition highlights the progress recorded across consumer perception measures as the airline continues to develop its operations and customer offering.

Air India has commenced construction of a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), marking another step towards strengthening its aircraft maintenance capabilities in India. The project aims to improve operational efficiency, enhance fleet reliability and reduce the airline's dependence on external maintenance services.

Spread across nine acres, the upcoming facility is designed to accommodate one widebody and one narrowbody aircraft simultaneously. According to Air India, it will be the first facility in Delhi capable of handling both aircraft types at the same time, allowing the airline to bring key engineering and maintenance activities under one roof. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 22 October 2026 in the presence of Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, along with senior executives from the airline and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

Other attendees included P Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Affairs at Air India; Basil Kwauk, Chief Operations Officer at Air India; Jeremy Yew, Senior Vice President – Engineering & Maintenance at Air India; Manomay Rai, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of DIAL; Vijay K Sharma, Vice President and Head – Aviation Services Business at DIAL; and Deepika Sharma, AGM – Aero Related, Commercial Aero, DIAL, among others.

The new hangar is expected to support Air India's efforts to build stronger in-house maintenance capabilities while improving aircraft availability and operational performance. By bringing inspections, cabin maintenance and technical defect repairs together, the facility aims to reduce the time aircraft spend on the ground.

The facility will integrate engineering offices with an on-site spare-parts warehouse, helping maintenance teams access the equipment and technical support required for aircraft repairs. This integrated approach is expected to reduce fragmented workflows, improve coordination and lower logistics costs. A dedicated Cabin Shop will focus on repairing and maintaining aircraft interiors. By handling more cabin-related work in-house, Air India aims to reduce its reliance on third-party vendors, speed up repairs and minimise cabin-related defects.

The facility is also expected to improve the recovery of aircraft grounded because of technical issues. Direct access to engineering teams and spare parts will help accelerate troubleshooting and repairs, potentially reducing operational disruptions and supporting a more reliable passenger experience.

Designed for long-term scalability, the hangar will feature a 25-metre clear height and large column-free spans to accommodate next-generation aircraft. The facility will also incorporate advanced fire protection measures and follow strict safety standards. The project aligns with Air India's environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments through adherence to Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Building norms, with provisions for energy and water conservation.

The development represents another investment in India's aviation maintenance infrastructure. As Air India continues to strengthen its engineering operations, the new Delhi facility is expected to support more efficient fleet management and improve the airline's ability to maintain aircraft at its largest hub. By expanding its in-house maintenance capacity, Air India aims to strengthen operational self-reliance while contributing to the wider development of India's aviation and aircraft maintenance ecosystem.