Look up in the sky and though it’s blue and pretty, you should know that it’s also a battlefield between two jumbos – Boeing and Airbus. The companies have produced very different and yet competing jets, the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with the aim of wooing Asian airlines. But the two were built keeping in mind two different approaches to flying.
Even though the Boeing 787 Dreamliner the latest aircraft from the US based aircraft manufacturer has been more than four years late in landing on Indian soil, it is creating waves similar to what the world’s largest civilian aircraft, the Airbus A380, manufactured by Boeing's rival on the other side of the Atlantic—Airbus Industries, created about five years ago.
The Boeing 787 is smaller in terms of the number of passengers it can seat as compared to the double-decker A-380 but in terms of luxury and comfort in business class the two probably match up. And Air India is hoping that the magic of flying the latest civilian aircraft, its fuel efficiency and other factors will make it a Maharaja like flying experience.
So we could not pass up the opportunity of being the first to experience the business class in the new Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Inception
You’ve heard about spacious cabins, fresh air, larger storage space and flat beds to stretch out on, instead of the usual cramped seats that tilt only a little making the time spent in the air uncomfortable. Well, a business class passenger on board the Air India Boeing 787 aircraft can experience all of these luxurious facilities and more. The first of the 787s was inducted into the airline’s fleet after a delay of over four years and this aircraft now flies the Delhi - Chennai –Delhi sector and the Delhi – Bangalore – Delhi route. Plans are also afoot to operate the new aircraft to Kolkata and some more cities. The induction of the Boeing 787 made Air India only the fifth airline globally after All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Chilean carrier Lan Chile to have the Dreamliner in its fleet.
Stepping in
In a way, the wait seems to have been worth it as the first thing that strikes you as you enter the business class cabin is the sheer sense of space. The entry way is large, the ceiling has been specially designed and the cabin comes with soft LED lighting. With just 18 seats, sourced from UK brand Contour, each of which converts into a flat bed at the touch of a button, there is not only more space, but also fewer passengers onboard. This also means more personalised service. The service includes attentive air hostesses and a special menu. For instance, on the morning hop between Delhi and Chennai passengers can savour fresh, sliced fruits, cereals and South Indian delicacies like spinach upma, molagaipodi idli and pessarattu. If it’s a North Indian breakfast you crave, you can choose the palak paneer bhurji with sabz parantha along with your choice of bread, and tea and coffee. Those interested in a non-vegetarian meal can choose between a cheesy Florentine omelette or Akuri, which is home styled scrambled egg accompanied by chicken croquette, carrot rosti and tomato stuffed with baked beans. This sumptuous meal is laid out on a collapsible table by the hostess. Tea and coffee are served in customised cups which have the sun logo of the airline on one side.
Given the entertainment choices onboard, the personalised service may go unnoticed! The in-flight entertainment is enough to keep you busy as there is plenty to choose from – the old Clint Eastwood classic movie ‘Dirty Harry’, the latest Bollywood hits and even the option of playing pool.
If you are the type who wants to just admire the view below, the Dreamliner has large windows that ensure you get a perfect lookout without anything blocking the panoramic view. At 18 inches, the aircraft’s windows are almost 60 per cent larger than the windows in other aircrafts. So even if you are not in a window seat you can still get a good view of the outside. You can also electronically dim the windows with the push of a button. You can go from bright sunshine to near darkness in about 60 seconds.
Hidden luxury
Of course, these are comforts and luxuries that you can ‘see’. The Dreamliner comes with a host of other features which though not visible, make your flight that much more relaxing and comfortable. To begin with, the cabin in the aircraft is pressurised to a match a maximum of 6,000 feet as compared to 8,000 feet in other aircraft. This means that the time spent in air is more comfortable with lesser chances of getting headaches or experiencing fatigue.
Then the cabin also has mood lighting which helps create a pleasant atmosphere and is something useful to have when flying through different time zones. These might not be selling points on the domestic routes that the aircraft is being used on right now, but will be a definite plus when Air India starts operating the Boeing 787 on its international long-haul routes from December this year. With the capability of flying non-stop for 13-14 hours, Air India plans to use this aircraft to launch services to Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, apart from flying to cities in Europe.
In addition, the Boeing 787’s cabin air is cleaner than most other commercial aircraft flying today. This is because the aircraft includes a High Efficiency Particulate Air filter that not only removes bacteria and viruses but also recycles the air every 30 minutes. The aircraft is also equipped with a system that senses turbulence and commands the wings control surface to counter it, thereby ensuring a smooth flight for the passenger.
This is also an environment friendly aircraft. It consumes 15 per cent lower fuel than existing similar sized aircraft and produces 20 per cent lesser emissions as well.
Air India has ordered 27 Boeing 787 aircraft, with the last of the delivery scheduled for 2016. The aircraft will become the backbone of the long haul fleet of the airline so there is a good chance that many flyers on Air India can hope to experience a fresh new Maharajah experience.