Air India Introduces Basic Fare Option

GURUGRAM:
Air India today announced the introduction of its new ‘Basic’ fare family, further strengthening its commitment to empowering customers with greater choice and control over how they travel and what they pay for.

The introduction of Basic fare builds on Air India’s branded fare families – Value, Classic, and Flex – introduced in 2024 as part of the airline’s effort to simplify and enhance its customer offering.

A new option for value-conscious travellers
Being trialled on select domestic routes, the Basic fare is available for travel in Economy Class and is designed for travellers who prioritise value. It includes a 15 kg checked baggage allowance, 7 kg cabin baggage allowance, complimentary beverage service (tea/coffee), while complimentary meals are not
included.

The Basic fare is entirely optional, and travellers continue to have the choice of booking across Air India’s existing fare families – Value, Classic, and Flex – each of which includes complimentary meals and a range of bundled benefits at progressively higher price points. The introduction of Basic fare simply adds another layer of choice, particularly for price-conscious travellers who prefer a more unbundled offering.

A pro-consumer approach to choice and transparency
The introduction of the Basic fare reflects Air India’s pro-consumer approach, recognising that different travellers have different preferences. By unbundling certain services, Air India is enabling price- conscious travellers to pay only for what they need, while preserving full-service offerings for those who value an all-inclusive experience.

With clearly differentiated bundles of products and services, Air India’s fare families are designed to align with evolving traveller preferences and enable guests to select the option that best meets their individual requirements.

Flexibility to customise
Travellers booked on Basic fares will have the flexibility to pre-purchase meals up to 24 hours before departure, with options including Vegetarian, Non-Vegetarian, Jain, and Diabetic meals. In the event of a schedule change or reaccommodation, pre-purchased meals will be automatically transferred to the new flight, or fully refunded if unavailable for any reason.

Pilot rollout
The Basic fare is currently available on select domestic routes. Air India will assess customer response and feedback during the pilot phase to guide decisions on the future of the offering. Currently, the Basic fare can be booked exclusively through the airline’s direct channels, including its
website, mobile app, contact centre, and airport ticketing offices. With the addition of the Basic fare, Air India continues to evolve its offering to deliver a more intuitive, fair, and customer-centric travel experience.

As the airline advances through its ongoing transformation journey, it remains focused on delivering greater value, choice, and relevance to its guests, ensuring that every traveller can personalise their journey in line with their preferences.