Air India has announced that it has been awarded the Skytrax 4-Star Airline Rating for both Business Class and Economy Class, marking another significant milestone in the airline’s ongoing transformation under the Vihaan.AI programme.

The airline’s upgrade from a 3-Star to a 4-Star rating comes after a large-scale transformation focused on fleet modernisation, product upgrades, digital innovation, on-ground improvements, and enhanced service standards across the customer journey.

Air India stated that the improvements have also reflected strongly in customer feedback and passenger sentiment. The airline’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), a key indicator of customer satisfaction and advocacy, has improved by more than 70 points, moving from -35 in late 2022 to nearly +40 currently. On its flagship Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, the airline’s NPS remains consistently in the high 60s.

Skytrax is recognised globally as one of the leading airline rating organisations, with its star ratings considered a major benchmark for airline quality and passenger experience. The 4-Star certification recognises airlines delivering strong and consistent service quality across products and operations.

Commenting on the achievement, Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “This 4-Star rating from Skytrax is an important recognition of the progress we have made in transforming Air India into a more modern, customer-focused airline. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of over 24,000 Air India employees who have embraced this transformation with commitment and pride. While this milestone reflects how far we have come, it also strengthens our resolve to continue raising the bar, with a clear ambition to achieve a 5-Star rating in due course as we build a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.”

The Skytrax audit evaluates the entire passenger journey, including airport experience, lounge facilities, onboard products, food and beverage, and service consistency.

At the centre of Air India’s transformation is its fleet modernisation programme. The airline has inducted India’s first Airbus A350 aircraft along with new Boeing 787-9 aircraft featuring newly designed Air India interiors. It has also completed the retrofit of 27 A320neo aircraft with upgraded cabins, while retrofit work on legacy Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 777 aircraft continues. Air India said that more than 120 aircraft, representing 66 per cent of its full-service fleet, have now been upgraded.

The airline has also upgraded its airport and lounge experiences with redesigned lounges in Delhi, Bengaluru, and San Francisco, with additional upgrades planned globally. Other improvements include streamlined boarding, self-service check-ins, and enhanced digital tools aimed at making the passenger journey smoother.

Air India has further refreshed its onboard experience through extensive cabin crew retraining and the addition of more than 5,000 newly recruited crew members. The airline has also upgraded inflight meals, beverages, bedding, and amenities while expanding its inflight entertainment offerings. Widebody aircraft now feature over 3,000 hours of entertainment content, while narrowbody aircraft offer more than 1,250 hours through the Vista Stream wireless entertainment platform. Inflight internet connectivity is also being gradually introduced across services.

On the digital front, Air India has overhauled its IT infrastructure and customer support systems with a redesigned website, upgraded mobile application, and a generative AI chatbot that has handled over 14 million interactions. The airline also said that call wait times at its customer contact centre have reduced to around 10 seconds, alongside improvements in refunds and issue resolution processes.

As Air India continues its Vihaan.AI transformation journey, the airline said it remains focused on strengthening its products, service standards, and global presence while aiming to set new benchmarks for Indian aviation internationally.

Air France is further strengthening its connectivity between India, France and international destinations through its Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport hub. The airline currently operates daily direct summer services from Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, offering Indian travellers smoother access to more than 190 destinations worldwide.

The airline said India continues to remain an important market for its growth strategy, supported by increasing demand from both business and leisure travellers.

One of the major updates for Indian passengers comes from recent changes introduced by French authorities. Indian nationals travelling between India and non-Schengen destinations through French airports will no longer require an Airport Transit Visa (ATV), provided they hold valid travel documentation. The move is expected to simplify transit procedures and offer a more convenient travel experience through Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Laure Daynie, Country Manager Air France-KLM India, said, "India is a key strategic market for Air France and continues to demonstrate resilience and strong growth potential in the current environment. We operate daily flights from three gateways, offering customers greater choice and flexibility in their travel options."

"The recent removal of the Airport Transit Visa (ATV) requirement for Indian nationals by the French authorities is a very welcome development, making transit through Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport simpler and more seamless."

"Along with Air France’s signature services and refined French hospitality, these developments further strengthen our commitment to elevating the customer journey and delivering smoother, more consistent, and a premium travel experience for our customers from India at every step."

Air France also highlighted enhancements to its passenger facilities at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, particularly within Terminal 2E at gates K, L and M. The redesigned Air France Lounge at Hall K now offers a three-level experience featuring relaxation areas, workspaces and wellness zones including the Clarins experience.

Travellers passing through Paris can also enjoy French dining experiences, selected wines and signature dishes created in collaboration with Ducasse Paris. Additional facilities include shower areas, high-speed Wi-Fi and seating spaces with views of the runway.

The airline also announced updates to Flying Blue, the loyalty programme of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Through a limited-period Status Match programme, eligible frequent flyers in India can transfer their existing elite status from other airlines to Flying Blue.

Further adding to passenger benefits, Air France has renewed its Youth and Student fare programme, offering additional baggage allowance in Economy Class and greater ticket flexibility for eligible travellers.

With stronger connectivity and a focus on improving transit and passenger experiences, Air France continues to reinforce its commitment to the Indian travel market.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is expanding its long-haul network with the launch of a new service to Bengaluru during its 2026/27 winter schedule. Marking a first for the airline, Bengaluru will become SWISS’s debut destination in Southern India and its third destination in the country after Delhi and Mumbai.

The new route will operate five times a week between Zurich and Bengaluru, strengthening travel connectivity between India and Switzerland. The 2026/27 winter schedule will run from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027.

Bengaluru, often recognised as India’s Silicon Valley, has grown into one of Asia’s leading technology and innovation hubs. The city is home to several global technology companies and has become a key destination for business travel as well as a gateway to Southern India.

Speaking on the expansion, Jens Fehlinger, CEO of SWISS, said, "We are delighted that, with Bengaluru, we will soon be providing our customers with another attractive and multi-faceted long-haul destination."

"India’s Silicon Valley has a lot to offer both leisure and business travelers, and is also a perfect gateway for exploring Southern India. Our new Bengaluru service is particularly aimed at meeting the growing demand among the business community for direct flights to this major technology hub."

Under the schedule, the eastbound LX 140 service will depart Zurich daily except on Mondays and Wednesdays at 13:20 and arrive in Bengaluru at 02:55 the next day. The return LX 141 flight from Bengaluru will operate daily except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, departing at 04:50 and reaching Zurich at 10:50 on the same day.

Alongside its India expansion, SWISS is also increasing the reach of its new Airbus A350 fleet. Following routes to Boston and Seoul, the airline plans to introduce Airbus A350 operations on the Zurich–Johannesburg route during the winter schedule and on Zurich–Shanghai flights from September.

Passengers on these routes will also experience the airline’s new "SWISS Senses" cabin concept, designed to offer upgraded comfort and a more refined travel experience across all seating classes.

The airline expects its Airbus A350 fleet to grow to five aircraft by the end of the year, allowing more long-haul travellers to access the new onboard experience.

SWISS has also announced network changes in Geneva, where Berlin, Hamburg and Pristina services will not continue during the upcoming winter schedule due to ongoing global aircraft and engine parts availability challenges affecting its Airbus A220 fleet.

Overall, SWISS plans to serve 88 destinations worldwide from Zurich and Geneva during the 2026/27 winter season, including 60 European and 24 intercontinental destinations from Zurich.