Air India Business Class (A350): The Surprise Package

Air India's transformation under Tata Group ownership is one of aviation's most interesting stories. The airline that was synonymous with unreliability and dated product has, on its new A350 routes, produced something genuinely competitive. The new business class seat is a proper lie-flat with direct aisle access. The food — always Air India's quiet strength — is excellent. The prices are frequently the best value lie-flat available between India and the UK.

The A350 Seat

Air India's A350 Business Class features a lie-flat seat in a 1-2-1 configuration. Every seat has direct aisle access. The seat converts to a fully flat bed with a proper length of 79 inches — long enough for most travellers.

The design is clean and contemporary. The IFE system is a significant upgrade from the carrier's previous product, with a large touchscreen and a reasonable content library. The seat storage is adequate, the lighting is adjustable, and the overall feel is of a product that was designed by people who had actually looked at the competition.

The Food

Indian cuisine at altitude, done properly, is Air India's strongest card. The menu on the Delhi–London route covers multiple regional Indian dishes with genuine flavour and care. This is not the generic chicken-or-fish choice that dominates most airline menus — this is actually interesting food. The bread basket, the spiced starters, the curries: the quality is consistently good.

If Indian cuisine is something you enjoy, the food alone justifies this flight.

The Older Fleet

Air India still operates older aircraft on some routes, and the gap between the A350 product and the older Boeing fleet is significant. Older Air India business class is a narrower, less comfortable seat that doesn't compete with the new product. Always confirm the aircraft type before booking. The A350 routes include Delhi–London and are being expanded.

What's Still Improving

The service consistency is still developing. The best flights have crew who are attentive and warm. The worst have service that's technically present but lacks the natural attentiveness of more experienced premium carriers. The overall trajectory is positive — each year the product improves — but there is still variance.

Punctuality has improved significantly under Tata ownership but still doesn't match European or Asian carriers.

The Value Proposition

Air India A350 Business Class frequently prices significantly below Gulf carriers for the same route and cabin type. If you're comparing options between India and the UK, the price difference can be £300–£600 per person for what is now a genuinely competitive premium product. That's the core reason this earns a 7.8 and a recommendation.

The Verdict

A genuine surprise. The new A350 product is competitive, the food is excellent, and the prices are usually the best available for lie-flat on India–UK routes. Book the A350, not the old fleet, and you'll be pleasantly surprised.