Air India gets DGCA greenlight for in-house modification of aircraft interiors, collaborates with Tata Technologies | Business News
Air India has received the regulatory approval that will allow the airline to independently make aircraft interior design changes and modifications in-house and not fully depend on third party service providers.
The Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) comes at a time when the airline has initiated a multi-million dollar retrofit programme to spruce up the interiors of its legacy aircraft. With the DOA in place, the Tata group airline is also collaborating with another group company—Tata Technologies—to enhance the cabin interiors of its fleet.
“Air India is the first airline in India to attain this level of authorisation, accelerating its ability to execute restoration tasks for continuous improvement of its fleet…The DOA is a transformative step towards enhancing Air India’s in-house capabilities, which has been bolstered by decisions to set up its own engineering, maintenance and training facilities. This will enhance operational efficiency and make the airline more self-reliant,” the airline said in a release.
While Air India’s focus currently would be on improving and maintaining interiors of its fleet and that of its no-frills airline Air India Express, the DOA certifies the company as a design organisation, which enables it to offer these services to other airlines. On its part, the airline did not comment on whether it was looking at offering services to other airlines.
“Air India has chosen Tata Technologies as its strategic partner to revolutionize its aircraft interiors…Tata Technologies will provide end-to-end solutions, from design and validation to weight optimization and ergonomic considerations. These innovations are set to redefine the passenger experience by ensuring that aircraft interiors are not only functional and safe but also future proof, providing passengers with modern comfort and state-of-the-art technology,” Tata Technologies said in a separate release.
Tata Technologies said that its deep experience working with leading aerospace original equipment manufacturers will be crucial in the process. Tata Technologies has expertise in lightweight materials, advanced design, and validation techniques, which it believes will help Air India optimize the fleet’s performance, safety, and efficiency.
“This collaboration also positions Tata Technologies as a key player in streamlining Air India’s operations by integrating innovative digital thread solutions and smart Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services. These solutions will improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and ensure that Air India’s fleet remains in top condition, further enhancing passenger safety and operational reliability,” Tata Technologies said.
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Air India was acquired by the Tatas in January 2022 from the government. Under government control, Air India was under financial stress, and this reflected in its product and service quality, which was seen as below the standards expected from a full-service carrier. While the now-privatised airline has ordered hundreds of new aircraft and recently initiated a mammoth fleet modernisation and expansion plan, it still has a large number of legacy aircraft that are in a rundown state.
The $400-million upgradation of the airline’s entire narrow-body fleet started last month and is expected to be complete by the middle of next year. As for its legacy wide-body aircraft—Boeing 787s and 777s—Air India expects their retrofit to start early next year.
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