Air India Maharaja Lounge opens in San Francisco as first overseas lounge since Tata Group takeover

Air India has opened its Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport, as the airline works to improve passenger experience and reflect its heritage. The site is important for Air India’s North American network. The lounge is also the first opened outside India since Tata Group took control in January 2022.

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Air India runs around 65 weekly flights between North America and India, making the region a major part of its schedule. Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said, "North America has long been a key pillar of its network, and the continued investments reflect both this commitment and our ambition to introduce a new standard of travel experiences in the region in the time to come.\"

Air India Maharaja Lounge expansion in North America

Mohit Gandhi, Head of Lounge Strategy at Air India, spoke after the launch last week. Gandhi said, \"Since 2022, there has been a lot of effort to transform this airline, to make it a world-class airline with an Indian heart. A lot of focus has been put on elevating the customer experience on various fronts,\" Gandhi said last week.

Gandhi also linked the new space to Air India’s wider plans. Gandhi said the expansion is the next step in transforming the carrier into a global airline with an Indian core. The airline has described the lounge as part of a broader push to upgrade services in key overseas locations.

Air India Maharaja Lounge design and access details

The lounge covers 3,300 square feet at the San Francisco airport. It is open to First and Business Class passengers. It is also available to Platinum and Gold members of the airline’s Maharaja Club loyalty programme. Air India said the concept work was done by Hirsch Bedner Associates HBA.

The San Francisco facility is the second in Air India’s planned line of signature lounges. In February, the carrier opened the first signature Maharaja Lounge at the Delhi airport. Air India has positioned these lounges as a standard feature for travellers using major hubs and long-haul routes.

Air India Maharaja Lounge and customer experience plan

Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Air India, said the airline aims to improve service across the journey. Dogra said, \"The opening of The Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport is a proud milestone in that pursuit and another step in our commitment to roll out an enhanced lounge experience in key international markets,\" he said.

Air India currently has a fleet of around 190 planes, and new aircraft are joining its fleet. The airline has been working on changes since the January 2022 takeover. The San Francisco lounge adds another passenger facility tied to these efforts, as Air India expands service upgrades in key markets.

With inputs from PTI