Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Air India Introduces ‘Basic’ Fare Option, Expanding Customer Choice In Economy Class On Domestic Travel

· Optional fare band designed for price-conscious travellers who prefer unbundled services

· Includes 15 kg checked baggage and 7 kg cabin allowance; excludes complimentary meals

Air India announced the introduction of its new ‘Basic’ fare family, further strengthening its commitment to empowering customers with greater choice and control over how they travel and what they pay for.

The introduction of Basic fare builds on Air India’s branded fare families - Value, Classic, and Flex - introduced in 2024 as part of the airline’s effort to simplify and enhance its customer offering.
A new option for value-conscious travellers

Being trialled on select domestic routes, the Basic fare is available for travel in Economy Class and is designed for travellers who prioritise value. It includes a 15 kg checked baggage allowance, 7 kg cabin baggage allowance, complimentary beverage service (tea/coffee), while complimentary meals are not included.

The Basic fare is entirely optional, and travellers continue to have the choice of booking across Air India’s existing fare families - Value, Classic, and Flex - each of which includes complimentary meals and a range of bundled benefits at progressively higher price points. The introduction of Basic fare simply adds another layer of choice, particularly for price-conscious travellers who prefer a more unbundled offering.
A pro-consumer approach to choice and transparency

The introduction of the Basic fare reflects Air India’s pro-consumer approach, recognising that different travellers have different preferences. By unbundling certain services, Air India is enabling price-conscious travellers to pay only for what they need, while preserving full-service offerings for those who value an all-inclusive experience.

With clearly differentiated bundles of products and services, Air India’s fare families are designed to align with evolving traveller preferences and enable guests to select the option that best meets their individual requirements.

Flexibility to customise

Travellers booked on Basic fares will have the flexibility to pre-purchase meals up to 24 hours before departure, with options including Vegetarian, Non-Vegetarian, Jain, and Diabetic meals. In the event of a schedule change or reaccommodation, pre-purchased meals will be automatically transferred to the new flight, or fully refunded if unavailable for any reason.
Pilot rollout

The Basic fare is currently available on select domestic routes. Air India will assess customer response and feedback during the pilot phase to guide decisions on the future of the offering.

Currently, the Basic fare can be booked exclusively through the airline’s direct channels, including its website, mobile app, contact centre, and airport ticketing offices.

With the addition of the Basic fare, Air India continues to evolve its offering to deliver a more intuitive, fair, and customer-centric travel experience.

As the airline advances through its ongoing transformation journey, it remains focused on delivering greater value, choice, and relevance to its guests, ensuring that every traveller can personalise their journey in line with their preferences.

About Air India Group

The Air India Group – comprising full-service global airline, Air India, and value carrier, Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India Group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries travellers to 60 domestic and 51 international destinations across five continents.

Returning to Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India Group is in the midst of a five-year transformation programme, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed orders for 600 new aircraft. In addition to taking new aircraft deliveries, Air India is progressively retrofitting all its legacy aircraft.

The Air India Group operates South Asia’s largest aviation training academy in Gurugram, India. The construction of a new flying school and a greenfield maintenance base is in progress.

With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.

For more news on Air India, visit http://www.airindia.com/newsroom   

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