Air India vs Vietnam Airlines

Overview

Air India is the flag carrier of India. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines by J. R. D. Tata, nationalised in 1953 and returned to the Tata Group in 2022. It is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. Air India Limited is owned by the Tata Group (74.9%) and Singapore Airlines (25.1%). The airline joined Star Alliance in 2014 and is the second-largest Indian airline by passenger volume, after IndiGo. Vistara merged into Air India in November 2024. Air India Express is a separate subsidiary.

Network and hubs

The main hub is Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, with secondary hubs at Bengaluru and Mumbai. Focus cities include Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram. As of November 2025 the airline served 87 domestic and international destinations. Codeshare and interline partnerships extend the network, for example with Virgin Australia and Alaska Airlines.

Fleet

As of November 2025, Air India operated 189 aircraft: Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo and A350, plus Boeing 777 and 787. The first factory-fit 787-9 was delivered in January 2026. Further orders were placed for Air India Express in January 2026.

On board

• Cabins: Legacy 777-300ERs have first, business and economy. 787-8s are two-class but are being retrofitted with premium economy. The A350-900 and 787-9 have business, premium economy and economy. A320/321ceo aircraft have business and economy; A320/321neo aircraft have three classes or all economy.
• Entertainment: Widebodies have seatback on-demand screens. Most narrowbodies have none, apart from the A321LR.
• Wi-Fi: Free on the A350, 787-9 and selected A321neo aircraft. In April 2026 the airline selected Hughes Network Systems for in-flight connectivity.

Good to know

• The loyalty programme is Maharaja Club, which combined Flying Returns and Club Vistara.
• Baggage allowances, change fees and lounge access vary by fare and route. Check the Air India website before travelling.
• Safety: Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025. All but one of the 242 people on board were killed, along with 19 people on the ground. Investigation findings should be checked for updates.

Overview

Vietnam Airlines is the flag carrier of Vietnam. According to Wikipedia, it traces its origins to Vietnam Civil Aviation, founded on 15 January 1956. It is headquartered at 200 Nguyen Son in Hanoi's Long Bien district and is the parent of the low-cost carrier Pacific Airlines and of Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO). A 2026 outlook report describes the government as the controlling shareholder, with Japan's ANA Holdings as a strategic partner. The airline joined the SkyTeam alliance in June 2010 and is listed on the Ho Chi Minh City stock exchange.

Network and hubs

The main hubs are Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang is a secondary hub, and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are focus cities. Wikipedia lists 65 destinations and, in the body text, 117 routes across 19 countries, excluding codeshares. Long-haul services reach Europe, Australia and the United States, alongside a dense network in Northeast and Southeast Asia.

Fleet

Wikipedia gives a fleet of 97 aircraft in 2026 (retrieved October 2026). The outlook report describes a mainline fleet of Airbus A321ceo and A321neo narrowbodies, A320neo aircraft, and widebody Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft. Turboprops are operated under the VASCO brand. The same report mentions plans for up to 30 more widebodies for delivery between 2028 and 2030.

On board

• Business: lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout on the 787 and A350; 2-2 recliner seats with 45 in pitch on the A321.
• Premium Economy: 38–42 in pitch, only on 787-9 and A350 aircraft, with hot meals on every flight.
• Economy: 31–32 in pitch and 32 in seat width.
• Meals: refreshments on flights over 90 minutes, and hot meals on flights over two hours.
• Entertainment: seatback screens on the A350 and 787, and streaming to personal devices on the A321neo.

Wi-Fi details were not confirmed in the sources reviewed.

Good to know

• Checked baggage: on Europe and Australia itineraries, the airline's baggage page lists Economy at one 23 kg piece, Premium Economy at two 23 kg pieces and Business at two 32 kg pieces. Allowances vary by route, notably for Japan.
• Cabin baggage: the hand baggage rules allow Economy 12 kg in total, made up of one piece of up to 10 kg plus an accessory.
• Loyalty: the Lotusmiles programme is free to join. Miles can be earned on Vietnam Airlines Group, SkyTeam and partner airlines.
• Safety: Wikipedia, citing the Aviation Safety Network, records six accidents or incidents since 1951, three of them fatal.