Air India unbundles economy: basic fare drops complimentary meals on select domestic routes
Tata-owned Air India launches a basic economy fare on select domestic flights, stripping out complimentary meals to court price-sensitive flyers. The pilot follows a Rs 26,700 crore FY26 loss and 14.6 lakh seats cut in June amid airspace closures, signalling a low-cost pivot for the full-service carrier.
What happened
Air India launches a basic economy fare on select domestic routes without complimentary meals, targeting price-conscious flyers. Pilot move unbundles services
Key facts
- 15 kg checked baggage
- 7 kg cabin baggage
- Rs 26,700 crore loss FY26
- 14.6 lakh seats cut June
- SGD 3.56 billion
Why this matters
Air India's basic economy pilot signals competitive pressure on IndiGo's domestic stronghold and opens partnership or ancillary-revenue plays for catering, payments, and loyalty platforms.