Overview
- Air India announced the new Basic fare on Tuesday as a pilot on select domestic Economy routes that removes complimentary in‑flight meals to offer a lower headline price.
- The Basic ticket keeps a 15 kg checked baggage allowance, a 7 kg cabin allowance, and complimentary tea or coffee while meals must be paid for separately.
- Passengers can pre‑purchase meals up to 24 hours before departure and those purchases will be automatically transferred after schedule changes or refunded if unavailable.
- During the trial the Basic fare can only be booked through Air India’s direct channels—website, mobile app, contact centre and airport ticket offices—and it does not replace Value, Classic or Flex fares.
- The move follows bigger cost pressures at the carrier, which reported heavy FY26 losses, and mirrors a wider industry trend to unbundle services so airlines can offer lower base fares and sell ancillaries.