Air India Drops Free Meals On Select Flights: Lower Fares, Bigger Competition

Air India has introduced a new "Basic Fare" category on select domestic routes, allowing passengers to book tickets without complimentary meals and save around ₹500–₹600. The move is being rolled out initially on shorter routes such as Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Amritsar and Bengaluru-Hyderabad, where many travellers may not require an in-flight meal. While tea and coffee will continue to be offered free of cost, passengers can still pre-book meals separately if they wish. The initiative is aimed at making fares more competitive and attracting price-sensitive flyers amid rising airfare costs and intense competition from low-cost carriers like IndiGo.