Industry

Air India resumes Delhi-Shanghai flights after 6 years

Air India recently marked two milestones: the first made-for-Air India 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring custom-styled interiors, entered commercial operations on February 1st from Mumbai to Frankfurt, while simultaneously Air India resumed its non-stop services between Delhi and Shanghai after nearly 6 years.

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This 4x weekly service to Shanghai, operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, restores Air India’s direct access to mainland China and supports growing demand from business travellers, families, and tourists.

Parallelly, Air India’s recently inducted 787-9 Dreamliner (VT-AWA) operating as AI2027 departed Mumbai to Frankfurt. This deployment marks the debut of Air India’s completely redesigned cabin interiors, unveiled on 27 January 2026, which set a new standard for passenger comfort and will be rolled out across the airline’s entire 787 fleet.


The new Boeing 787-9 features 30 Business Class suites in a spacious 1-2-1 layout, each offering direct aisle access, fully flat beds up to 79 inches long with a generous 42-inch pitch, wireless charging, large 17-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreens and ample storage.

Premium Economy offers 28 wide seats with generous legroom in a 2-3-2 layout, providing a 38-inch pitch, enhanced recline, adjustable calf and leg rests, 13.3-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreens, and more.

Economy Class comprises 238 ergonomic seats, equipped with 11.6-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreens and improved overall comfort tailored for long-haul flights. All three cabins feature Thales AVANT Up in-flight entertainment with high-definition touchscreens, Type A and C charging ports, new mood lighting inspired by ancient Indian wellness traditions, Bluetooth headphone connectivity, and bespoke design touches.