Air India has unveiled its first flagship Maharaja Lounge at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3), set to open for passengers on 16
February 2026. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson gave Times Now an exclusive tour of the newly built Maharaja Lounge, a first look at the premium facility. Speaking to Times Now, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said, “Over the past four years, all of us at Air India have been working very hard on building a world-class, global carrier with an Indian heart. We’ve put a lot of effort into upgrading systems, premises, products, aircraft and interiors. You can see it on more than 100 narrow-body aircraft flying domestically. Last week, we launched the first purpose-built 787 aircraft, which applies internationally. And today, we’re opening our new lounge here at Delhi International Airport. This is a lounge for our first and business class customers, where they can relax, have some food and drink, socialize, rest—whatever they like to do before they get on board the aircraft—so that the premium travel experience of Air India starts long before they actually get on board an aircraft.” The Air India CEO took Times Now on a tour of the Maharaja Lounge, showcasing its interiors and sharing details about the various zones. He said, “There is a quiet relaxation zone where people can have some quiet time and catch up on work or do whatever they wish to do. There is a library, which has some wonderful artworks from Air India’s past, as well as some artworks that are actually made from some of our old aircraft, believe it or not." We’ve got the Aviator Bar, which is going to be much more of a social space for people to catch up on gossip and reminisce, perhaps about their travel experiences they just had. There’s a very extensive selection, including live stations. And then, of course, there’s a whole other lounge for first class customers, which is a little bit more exclusive. So we’re trying to cater to all types of travelers in any sort of mood, with whatever they’re looking for—whether it’s rest, food, beverages or socialization,” Wilson added. When asked about the Vistara touch in the new Maharaja Lounge and the vision behind it, Wilson said, “Air India aspires to be a world class, global airline with an Indian heart. We have more than 90 years of history and heritage that we wanted to ensure was very readily apparent. We've got a wonderful history of heritage in India, of all hospitality. We wanted to ensure that was very much to the forefront. And of course, the Air India of today is the combination of many airlines, Indian Airlines, Air India, all laterally Vistara. And we wanted to display that heritage throughout what we're doing. So we're very proud of this lounge. We hope that it meets people's expectations. We know it's taken a while to develop, but we are confident that this, plus the product that we're launching on the 787, and our other new aircraft, really will build that Air India that I think everyone has been looking forward to." On when will the lounge be officially open for the Air India passengers, Wilson said, ‘so it's now ready. We will officially open it tonight, and then it will be ready for passengers very early next week’. Calling the Maharaja Lounge a global template, Wilson added that “this will be the template for our lounges in many places around the world. The next one that will open is in San Francisco, and then we’ll open more in just a few weeks’ time. 2026 is now starting to come to the fore, and passengers can start enjoying the new Air India that we have been building.” When asked about a message he would like to give to passengers, Campbell Wilson said, “The first thing we’d like to say is Namaste. Welcome. We hope that people find it up to their expectations. We’ve worked very hard on it. A lot of people from Air India have put their heart and soul into building this new lounge, as they have with the rest of Air India, and we hope it meets people’s expectations.” Key spaces in the lounge include:
- The Aviator’s Bar: The bar has a speakeasy vibe and a well-curated cellar of wines and whiskeys hand-picked for the discerning traveller. Its design draws inspiration from the historic 1932 flight from Karachi to Bombay by Mr. JRD Tata, with the ceiling replicated as the propeller of the first Puss Moth aircraft.
- The Globetrotter’s Study: A haven for avid readers and working professionals, the Globetrotter’s Study is Air India’s answer to a working space. A serene and cozy nook, it has a curated book collection across fiction and non-fiction titles. With ample power outlets and high-speed connectivity, it’s an ideal spot for reading in quiet comfort or working while in transit.
- Serenity Area: An enclosed area with a calming atmosphere, the Serenity Area is a space that accommodates individual recliners for guests to relax, rest, and rejuvenate.
- Crystal Bar: The contemporary-luxury styled bar with subtle hints of traditional Indian motifs is the pièce de résistance in the ‘First Class’ lounge. Serving champagnes along with classic and signature cocktails, its crystal enclosures create a shimmering effect making it a picture-perfect location to raise a toast to luxury.
- Tarmac view: The seating and dining sections of the ‘First Class’ lounge overlook the tarmac offering enchanting views of aircraft taking off and landing. The wholesome experience of ‘wine and dine with a view’ is perfect for plane-spotters and curious travellers alike.
- Sleep Suites: Guests travelling ‘First Class’ can indulge in pre-flight rest in our exclusive sleep suites crafted for restorative sleep.Imagine waking up relaxed to a fresh juice or a hot beverage before you take off.
The lounge will be progressively opened to guests travelling in Business and First Class, Gold and Platinum Maharaja Club and eligible Star Alliance members starting 16 February 2026
