Air India to Deploy Upgraded Boeing 777 Aircraft on Delhi-Melbourne Route from July 1, Introduces First Class

Air India is set to enhance its premium offering on the Delhi-Melbourne route by deploying its upgraded Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from July 1, marking another milestone in the airline's ongoing fleet modernisation programme.

The daily non-stop service, currently operated by the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, will transition to the refurbished Boeing 777-300ER, bringing First Class to the route for the first time. The move is part of Air India's broader strategy to improve passenger experience across key international destinations.

First Class Debuts on Delhi-Melbourne

One of the biggest highlights of the upgrade is the introduction of an eight-suite First Class cabin, offering passengers a significantly more luxurious travel experience.

The refurbished aircraft will feature a four-class configuration comprising:

• 8 First Class suites

• 40 fully flat Business Class seats

• 280 Economy Class seats

The deployment also increases the airline's premium seating capacity on the Australia route while adding nearly 4,000 seats per month between Delhi and Melbourne.

Wi-Fi and Refreshed Cabin Interiors

Passengers travelling on the upgraded aircraft will also have access to in-flight Wi-Fi for the first time on the Delhi-Melbourne service.

The Boeing 777-300ER features refreshed cabin interiors, upgraded seating, improved soft furnishings and an enhanced onboard experience, aligning the route with Air India's transformation programme under the Tata Group.

Part of a Wider Fleet Transformation

The Melbourne upgrade is one of several aircraft deployment changes announced by Air India as part of its Northern Summer Schedule 2026.

The airline has been inducting new aircraft while refurbishing existing wide-body jets to offer more consistent cabin products across its international network. The strategy includes deploying new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, retrofitted Boeing 787-8s and upgraded Boeing 777 aircraft on major long-haul routes connecting India with North America, Europe and Australia.

Daily Flights from September

In addition to the aircraft upgrade, Air India has confirmed that the Delhi-Melbourne route will operate daily from September 2026, further strengthening connectivity between India and Australia.

The airline expects the combination of increased frequency, upgraded cabins and premium services to cater to growing demand from business travellers, students and the Indian diaspora in Australia.

The deployment of the upgraded Boeing 777-300ER reflects Air India's continued focus on modernising its long-haul fleet and enhancing the overall passenger experience as it seeks to compete more effectively with leading international carriers.