Thales and Air India debut region’s first new 787-9 aircraft flying with Thales’ AVANT Up Inflight Entertainment System

The future of Indian aviation takes flight with the entry into service of Air India’s new 787-9 aircraft equipped with Thales’s AVANT Up inflight entertainment platform on 1 February 2026. Air India, the country’s leading global airline and largest international carrier, continues to elevate its passenger experience with 6 new 787-9 aircraft equipped with AVANT Up.

Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India commented: “As we embark on this exciting new chapter with our state-of-the-art 787-9, we’re thrilled to offer our passengers an unparalleled inflight experience. By integrating Thales’ cutting-edge AVANT Up system, we are enhancing the comfort and entertainment on board but also showcasing the warmth and hospitality that Air India is known for. This milestone is a significant step forward in our commitment to leading the future of Indian aviation, offering our customers the best of technology and Indian culture in the sky.”

Niels Steenstrup, Chief Executive Officer, Thales InFlyt Experience stated: “We are proud to support Air India’s customer-centric modernisation journey and bring extraordinary inflight experiences onboard, showcasing the best of India to the world. AVANT Up flying on ​ the airline’s new 787-9 marks a new chapter in our long-standing collaboration. Together, we are elevating the standards for entertainment in the sky, by combining world-class technology with the warmth of Indian hospitality.”

Air India is introducing the next generation of Vista, its award-winning IFE system to elevate the passenger viewing experience. The system on the new 787-9 features over 3,000 hours of content and the largest library of Indian entertainment available in multiple languages. Vista, powered by Thales’ AVANT Up IFE, combines state-of-the art hardware and software technologies including:

• Ultra-responsive Optiq 4K QLED HDR displays designed to provide the most cinematic viewing experience in the air;
• Thales’ award-winning Pulse dynamic power supply enabling up to 60W of in-screen USB-A and USB-C high-speed charging;
• Bluetooth® connection to pair wireless headphones or other devices to the display;
• Interactive 3D map and immersive route-based programming;
• Intuitive user interface (UI) and Kids UI.