Air India, which recently took delivery of a brand new 787-9 Dreamliner, will deploy the aircraft to Frankfurt from Mumbai, starting February 01, 2026. The airline will operate this route five times a week.
AI2027 BOM1235 – 1730FRA
AI2028 FRA2020 – 0900(+1)BOM
Flights operate on all days except Tuesdays and Fridays.
“Placeholder”
When the aircraft was due for delivery, I did a check of its network to predict where the aircraft would be deployed and zeroed in on Mumbai – Frankfurt. The route is currently operated by the former Delta B777-200LR in three class configuration, before which the former Vistara Dreamliner operated this route. It is now well known that all the ex-Delta planes are on their way out. However, the airline had a 777-200LR on this route in the booking engine for forward bookings as well. Why would it have done so? The ex-Delta aircraft is a three class aircraft which helps with continuation of acceptance of booking for all three classes, which continue as is on the 787-9. Why did it not update it to 787-9 then? Airlines like to announce new aircraft and routes with fanfare. If the number of flights on the 787-9 would have been more than what could have been serviced by the ex-Vistara 787-9, the market would have picked up the new aircraft, but the new aircraft comes with a slight change in configuration with three fewer seats, which I suspect are in the economy class and the Business and Premium Economy matching the count with former Vistara planes.
The ex-Delta B777-200LR comes with 28 Business 48 Premium Economy and 212 Economy class seats, while the ex-Vistara 787-9 is equipped with 30 Business 21 Premium Economy and 248 Economy class seats. The airline could have very well restricted the inventory of Premium Economy on these flights, besides the forward bookings are not as strong to have the flights full. I suspect the 787-9 (VT-AWA) to have 30 Business 21 Premium Economy and 245 Economy class seats. The B777-200LR in the booking engine was thus a mere placeholder till the airline wanted to decide on the announcement date and subsequent marketing.
Additionally, until there was an availability of additional 787-9 aircraft, the Mumbai – Frankfurt route was operated by the ex-Vistara aircraft in three class configuration, though the premium economy was not in line with Vistara’s own standards.
Germany first, Heathrow next?
This makes Air India offerings to Germany more standardised which will see 12 weekly services from Delhi onboard the 787-9 (ex-Vistara) and five times a week service from Mumbai with VT-AWA, which can be swapped to Delhi if needed for operational requirements. Lufthansa is a strong competition between India and Frankfurt, with Lufthansa leading in both capacity as well as frequency. Air India and Lufthansa have a codeshare agreement which helps Air India passengers connect to nearly 30 points beyond Frankfurt.
The airline has been utilising newer or aircraft with relatively premium interiors to London Heathrow with the flights from Delhi being operated by the A350 and ex-Vistara 787-9, while those from Mumbai by the ex-Etihad B77Ws. The flights from Bengaluru to London Heathrow are operated by legacy 787-8 dreamliner, which could shift to the refurbished aircraft once they are back from re-fit in the USA. Air India also operates to London Gatwick and Birmingham, which also sees 787-8 legacy dreamliner operations.
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