Air India on 6 February lifted the curtain on its first-ever flagship Maharaja Lounge at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 3, signalling the Tata-owned carrier’s intent to claw back premium traffic from Gulf and Southeast Asian rivals. The 30,000-square-foot space—three times larger than the airline’s previous facility—will open to guests on 16 February and is accessible to First and Business-Class passengers as well as Maharaja Club Gold and Platinum elites and eligible Star Alliance members.
Designed by Rockwell Group, the lounge combines classic ‘Jharokha’ latticework with contemporary Indian art, featuring 350 seats, eight shower suites, a spa corner and ‘Chef’s Studio’ live counters serving regional menus that rotate every fortnight. High-speed Wi-Fi, soundproof work pods and a private boardroom cater to business travellers needing to squeeze in conference calls before long-haul departures. A dedicated immigration desk—developed in partnership with the Bureau of Immigration—lets premium passengers clear formalities directly from the lounge during peak late-night bank departures.
For international travellers excited to sample the new lounge, having the right paperwork is just as critical as securing a boarding pass. VisaHQ makes getting an Indian visa straightforward, offering a simple online application, real-time status updates and responsive support for both individual and corporate clients. Before heading to Delhi, travellers can visit https://www.visahq.com/india/ to handle visa formalities quickly and focus on enjoying Air India’s refreshed premium experience.
![Air India opens flagship ‘Maharaja Lounge’ for premium flyers at Delhi T3]()
For corporates, the upgrade means shorter connection buffers when booking tight itineraries via Delhi. Travel managers should note that access rules mirror those of Star Alliance’s gold lounges: one guest allowed for top-tier elites, but no guesting for business-class passengers on award tickets. Air India has hinted that similar flagship lounges will debut at Mumbai’s T2 and Bengaluru’s T2 by early 2027 as part of its $400-million ground-product refresh.
The launch also dovetails with Air India’s fleet modernisation. From March, the airline starts receiving factory-fresh Boeing 787-9s fitted with Thompson VantageSolo suites up front, creating a consistent end-to-end premium experience. Analysts say the lounge will be particularly valuable on routes competing with Emirates and Qatar Airways, whose lounges in Dubai and Doha have become benchmarks for South Asian premium flyers.
In an era where corporate travel budgets are scrutinised, the ability to offer premium but non-stop Indian metal to North America and Europe—sweetened by a world-class ground product—could tilt procurement decisions back in Air India’s favour.
Designed by Rockwell Group, the lounge combines classic ‘Jharokha’ latticework with contemporary Indian art, featuring 350 seats, eight shower suites, a spa corner and ‘Chef’s Studio’ live counters serving regional menus that rotate every fortnight. High-speed Wi-Fi, soundproof work pods and a private boardroom cater to business travellers needing to squeeze in conference calls before long-haul departures. A dedicated immigration desk—developed in partnership with the Bureau of Immigration—lets premium passengers clear formalities directly from the lounge during peak late-night bank departures.
For international travellers excited to sample the new lounge, having the right paperwork is just as critical as securing a boarding pass. VisaHQ makes getting an Indian visa straightforward, offering a simple online application, real-time status updates and responsive support for both individual and corporate clients. Before heading to Delhi, travellers can visit https://www.visahq.com/india/ to handle visa formalities quickly and focus on enjoying Air India’s refreshed premium experience.
For corporates, the upgrade means shorter connection buffers when booking tight itineraries via Delhi. Travel managers should note that access rules mirror those of Star Alliance’s gold lounges: one guest allowed for top-tier elites, but no guesting for business-class passengers on award tickets. Air India has hinted that similar flagship lounges will debut at Mumbai’s T2 and Bengaluru’s T2 by early 2027 as part of its $400-million ground-product refresh.
The launch also dovetails with Air India’s fleet modernisation. From March, the airline starts receiving factory-fresh Boeing 787-9s fitted with Thompson VantageSolo suites up front, creating a consistent end-to-end premium experience. Analysts say the lounge will be particularly valuable on routes competing with Emirates and Qatar Airways, whose lounges in Dubai and Doha have become benchmarks for South Asian premium flyers.
In an era where corporate travel budgets are scrutinised, the ability to offer premium but non-stop Indian metal to North America and Europe—sweetened by a world-class ground product—could tilt procurement decisions back in Air India’s favour.
