design-review.jpg” alt=”Air India Enterprise Class Evaluate on the New 787-9 Dreamliner” class=”wp-image-18444″ srcset=”https://www.cardexpert.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/air-india-business-class-787-9-new-design-review.jpg 1366w, https://www.cardexpert.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/air-india-business-class-787-9-new-design-review-300×169.jpg 300w, https://www.cardexpert.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/air-india-business-class-787-9-new-design-review-1024×576.jpg 1024w, https://www.cardexpert.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/air-india-business-class-787-9-new-design-review-768×432.jpg 768w, https://www.cardexpert.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/air-india-business-class-787-9-new-design-review-665×374.jpg 665w” sizes=”(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px”/>I not too long ago flew Air India’s newest 787-9 Dreamliner in Enterprise Class on the Mumbai–Frankfurt route, that includes the airline’s all-new bespoke cabin interiors. From the bottom expertise at Mumbai T2 to the onboard product, together with the redesigned cabin, up to date facilities, and meal service, right here’s an in depth take a look at my end-to-end journey.
Reserving
- Flight: AI2027
- Route: BOM – FRA
- Flight Period: ~9 hrs
- Cabin & Seat: Enterprise Class, 3K
- Tools: Boeing 787-9 (new design)
- Month of Journey: Feb 2026
Whereas I usually desire utilizing Aeroplan (Air Canada) Factors for Star Alliance redemptions, I opted to redeem KrisFlyer (Singapore Airways) miles for this reserving.
On condition that Aeroplan factors are extra useful and constantly in demand for my travels, I selected to avoid wasting them and proceed with KrisFlyer as an alternative, at a price of round 68,000 miles + 3,500 INR in taxes.
Let’s start the evaluation with the bottom expertise.
Lounge
I used to be given entry to the Adani Lounge (West Wing) at Mumbai T2 Worldwide Departures. Having visited the worldwide lounges at BOM a number of occasions, I have to say that I’m not a fan of those Adani lounges in Mumbai.
Whereas the seating is comfy and well-designed, the meals providing continues to disappoint.
For a lounge of this scale, there’s clear scope for enchancment, particularly when it comes to selection, which is usually higher at lounges in Bengaluru or Chennai.
Throughout my ~45-minute keep, I observed that objects like fruits and juices weren’t refilled promptly, which was disappointing.
So I saved it gentle and determined to attend for a greater meal onboard. In the meantime, the Air India app notifications turned out to be fairly helpful.
Cabin
Air India’s new cabin design is spectacular from each angle. It feels fashionable, clear, and thoughtfully executed.
One standout aspect is the ambient lighting, particularly the lamp design, which seems lovely when dimmed and provides a premium contact to the cabin environment.
The seat itself is well-designed for each lounging and dealing. The desk is large, the peak is good, and it extends shut sufficient to the seat, making it sensible for some work through the flight.
Furthermore, the sliding door wasn’t operational on my flight, which restricted the general sense of privateness. It may have supplied a a lot better expertise, just like Qatar Airways’ Qsuite. Appears this function could also be enabled within the close to future.
Facilities
Air India supplied Forest Necessities kits on this flight, which is a welcome transfer. I’m glad they’ve moved away from the Ferragamo kits that have been beforehand supplied on worldwide Enterprise Class, akin to on my CDG – DEL flight final 12 months.
Again when Vistara operated long-haul flights, in addition they supplied Forest Necessities kits, which I discovered wonderful, particularly the lip balm that I nonetheless use from my BOM – CDG journey.
I hope Air India continues with Forest Necessities going ahead. That stated, the moisturiser amount might be extra beneficiant. Airways like Qatar Airways, as an example, present separate physique and face lotions with barely extra amount, which stay my private favorite.
That apart, a refresh in pouch color would even be a pleasant contact.
Meals & Drinks
The service began with welcome drinks. I selected an apple mocktail, which was surprisingly good. The nuts have been served heat, however they weren’t very crispy. Center Jap airways nonetheless do a greater job with regards to serving crunchy nuts.
On this ~9-hour flight, two meals have been served: a full predominant meal and a lighter refreshment about two hours earlier than touchdown. I pre-selected Asian Vegetarian Meal for the flight. Right here’s a fast take a look at the menu:
The three-course predominant meal was scrumptious, as you’ll be able to see within the footage beneath.
Even the refreshment felt like a correct meal, which you’ll discover beneath.
Basically, I don’t anticipate nice meals on flights, however this one genuinely impressed me. Good meals has all the time been certainly one of Air India’s strengths, and this flight exceeded that expectation.
Wi-Fi & IFE
On my flight, the Wi-Fi was not purposeful. For a flight in 2026, the absence of Wi-Fi was disappointing. It was most likely one of many longest period I’ve been awake with out being linked.
That stated, the inflight leisure system was good, with a premium-quality show, a good display screen measurement, and a wide variety of content material.
Nevertheless, my seat had an audio concern, with sound coming by means of just one facet of the headset.
The crew supplied me one other seat, which I gladly accepted and used for sleeping, so I basically ended up with two seats. 😉
Sleep High quality
The absolutely flat mattress was comfy and labored properly for a fast relaxation.
The cabin air high quality additionally felt noticeably higher than on most different plane that I flew within the final 2 years. On a fast analysis, I discovered that that is largely as a result of 787’s design, which generally presents improved cabin strain and humidity ranges.
So the general sleep high quality was fairly good. Nevertheless, ingress and egress may have been higher, because the entry area into the seat felt barely slim and restrictive.
Backside Line
Total, the expertise on Air India’s new 787-9 was a transparent step ahead and displays the airline’s ongoing transformation. The comfy seat, all-new interiors, and the scrumptious meals have been all fairly spectacular.
Having first flown Air India’s international Business Class in 2018, I can clearly see how issues have improved over time, and for the higher.
In reality, on my return from Europe with Air France Enterprise Class, I discovered the meals and repair underwhelming as compared, which makes Air India’s enhancements much more noticeable.
With continued consistency and extra new plane like this, Air India might be properly on observe to compete with main worldwide carriers.
