All About Air India Flight (AI): Complete Passenger Guide 2025

Fleet Size & Modernisation: Air India is one of the most significant fleet expansions in aviation history. In 2023, the Tata group placed a historic order of 470 aircraft. This positions Air India to be among the top global carriers by fleet size in the next decade. In mid-2025, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express operate hundreds of aircraft with deliveries of new planes continuing steadily.  

Global Reach: Air India is the nation’s popular airline, managing flights to over 100 destinations, including major cities in the US, UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It is the only Indian airline with non-stop flights to North America (New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, Toronto, Vancouver). 

Work Force and Infrastructure: Employs tens of thousands of staff globally. Operates a hub in Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, with secondary hubs in Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad. 

Domestic Market Share: As per 2025 Statistics, along with Air India Express and after the Vistara merger, it became India’s largest airline group by market share. After the integration, the Tata airline (Air India Express, Air India, Vistara, and Air Asia India) collectively rival IndiGo in both scale and network.

International Market Share: Air India dominates India’s long-haul international sector, especially to North America, Europe, Australia, and the Gulf. It carries the largest share of international passengers from India, particularly in the premium cabins (Business & First Class), where foreign carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines are strong competitors.

You can apply for a refund up to two years from the date of issuance of the ticket. 

If you booked via Air India directly (website, app, ticket office), you can initiate the refund from those. If you go through a travel agent or third party, you often must contact them.

There is typically a 24-hour grace period, if you cancel within 24 hours of booking (and certain conditions are met, like departure being at least 7 days later), you may get a full refund with no cancellation fee. Refund process takes 7-10 business days when everything is in order. But delays can happen depending on the payment method, bank, agent, or booking channel. If booked via an agent, sometimes the agent processes the refund and remits money.

Air India Baggage policy is designed to make your flight travel easy and relaxing. 

Cabin/Carry-on Baggage: The cabin baggage rules vary depending on the travel class, fare, and ticket issue date. For many tickets, updated weight limits are available. For example, Economy might allow one carry-on of a certain weight; Premium / Business / First classes allow more. For tickets issued before that date, older weights apply.

Checked Baggage: The number of free checked pieces, their weight, and size limits are determined by: Route (domestic or international specific country), Class of travel, and fare family (Value, Classic, Flex, etc.)
If you are flying between India and the USA, in Economy class, you may have two pieces, each up to 23 kg. In Business / First classes, allowances are higher (e.g. two pieces of up to 32 kg each) on many of those routes. A single piece heavier than 32 kg is generally not allowed, regardless of route, even if paying extra. 

Using Air India web check-in options can save time, let you select seats in advance, etc. Here are key details.

When Web Check-In is Available: Usually opens a certain hours before departure. The exact cut-off times depend on whether the flight is domestic or international, as well as the specific airport. (Air India’s website will display check-in windows for your particular booking.) You’ll need your booking reference/PNR and passenger name to log in and check in online.
What You Can Do with Web Check-In: Select your seat (depending on availability), receive/download your boarding pass (or save on mobile). For flights with checked baggage, you still need to drop off your bags at the airport's baggage drop counters. Web check-in doesn’t carry your luggage automatically.