Air India is dropping the single meal tray in Business Class on its longest flights. In its place, the airline says, cabin crew will now set a linen-covered table and bring the meal one course at a time, each course plated on its own dish.
The airline announced the change in a press release on October 22. The service has started on flights between India and the UK, serving London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Birmingham. Air India says it will spread to other long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes flown by its Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 777-300 aircraft. It did not give dates or name the next routes.
What changes at your seat
On many Business Class flights, a meal arrives as one loaded tray: starter, main and dessert at once, or close to it. Air India's new approach is closer to a restaurant. The table is laid with linen, appetizers come first, and the main course and dessert follow on their own plates. The airline says the meal is served at a slower pace, and that passengers can take it on their own terms rather than on the galley's clock.
There is new tableware to go with it. Air India lists separate plates for appetizers, mains, snacks, dessert and cheese, a signature glass, and an espresso cup designed for the service. The piece it singles out is a salt-and-pepper set shaped like a Martaban, a traditional Indian storage jar. The airline describes the whole collection as a nod to Indian design and craft. It did not name the maker or the designer.
The release is thin on the food itself. It mentions refreshed menus, an award-winning wine list and better tea service, but it names no dishes, chefs or wines. So for now, this is a change in how the meal is served more than in what is on the plate.
The change covers Business Class only. Air India did not say anything about First Class or Premium Economy.
Why it matters for Air India
Air India has spent the past few years trying to rebuild its reputation for long-haul premium travel. Under Tata Group ownership it has taken delivery of new A350s and new 787-9s fitted with its latest cabins, and it is retrofitting older wide-body and narrow-body jets with new seats and interiors. The airline frames the new dining service as part of that same push.
That retrofit has been slow, and the gap between Air India's newest and oldest cabins is still wide. We looked at that in what is going wrong at Air India. A better meal service does not fix a worn seat. But it is a change the crew can bring to every aircraft type the airline named, including jets that have not yet been refitted.
Rajesh Dogra, Air India's Chief Customer Experience Officer, presented the service as one more step in the airline's broader overhaul, built on careful design and more personal attention from the crew.
Which flights to look for
The London and Birmingham routes come first. If you are booking Business Class on those routes, the new service should be on board now. On other long-haul routes, it will arrive over time and may depend on the aircraft. The airline's fleet and loyalty details are on our Air India page.
Membership in Air India's Maharaja Club program does not change how the meal is served. What you get depends on the cabin you book. Recent changes to the program, such as fast-track status for some bank clients, are covered in our earlier story.
Where to wait before the flight
At London Heathrow, Air India flies from Terminal 2, which is home to several Star Alliance lounges. They include the United Club, the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge and the Lufthansa Business Lounge. Which one an Air India Business Class ticket opens depends on the lounge the airline assigns, so check your boarding pass or ask at check-in. Priority Pass members can also use the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 2.
Flying the other way, Air India's flagship lounge is The Maharaja Lounge at Delhi, one of the better-rated lounges in our directory. Passengers leaving from Gatwick or Birmingham can browse the lounges listed on those airport pages before they fly.
