Air India Heathrow Upgrade, Priority Pass Doha Return: Aviation Bits
Air India confirms new cabins on all Heathrow flights by January 2027, while Priority Pass lounge access returns to Doha's Hamad International Airport.
By The Aviation Hub
4 min read
Air India has confirmed that all of its flights from London Heathrow will feature its newest cabin interiors from January 2027, marking a significant step in the carrier's ongoing refurbishment programme. Alongside that news, Priority Pass lounge access has returned to Doha's Hamad International Airport, and Radisson Rewards has quietly absorbed three London hotels operating under the new Guild Hotels brand.
Air India's New Cabins Come to All Heathrow Routes
According to Head for Points, Air India currently operates its latest cabin experience on two Heathrow routes. Flights to Delhi use a mix of Airbus A350 and new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, while flights to Mumbai use a mix of new Boeing 787-9 and refurbished Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
From January 2027, the Bengaluru route will join them. That service is currently operated by an older Boeing 787-8 and will be upgraded to one with a refurbished interior.
The refurbished cabins include the same business class suites found on Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and United, among others. Head for Points notes that before-and-after photos of the 787-8 refurbishment make clear why the airline has carried a poor reputation in recent years.
Not all UK routes are covered yet. The Gatwick to Ahmedabad service and the Birmingham to Amritsar route are both operated by older Boeing 777-300ERs and are not yet guaranteed to receive the new cabins. Those aircraft are due to begin refurbishment in early 2027, subject to timelines holding.
You can check Air India's fleet and route details using our Airline Search tool.
Priority Pass Lounge Access Returns to Doha
Three Al Maha Lounges at Hamad International Airport left the Priority Pass programme in mid-May, Head for Points reports. The lounges affected were the Al Maha Lounge (South East), the Al Maha Lounge (North / Orchard) and the Al Maha Lounge (South Node).
All three have now returned to the programme, confirmed by a reader tip this week. The reason for the original departure is not confirmed, though Head for Points notes that Priority Pass has a general reputation for paying less than other lounge card groups, and that financial disagreements of this kind are common.
Hamad International is notable for the breadth of its lounge offering, including a dedicated lounge for seafarers travelling on discounted fares, which Head for Points describes as unique in its experience.
Radisson Rewards Absorbs Guild Hotels in London
Three London hotels that were previously branded as Radisson Blu have relaunched under a new identity called Guild Hotels, with properties in Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Marble Arch. Head for Points reports that £20 million has been invested in refurbishing the Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury properties.
Despite the rebrand, the hotels remain bookable through radissonhotels.com and continue to sit within the Radisson Rewards loyalty scheme. They have not joined the Radisson Individuals brand, which exists for independent hotels in the group, leaving their positioning within the programme without a clear explanation.
Guild Hotels described their approach in a statement: "There's a real opportunity in London's four-star market for hotels that deliver consistently high standards but still have personality. For us, Crafted Hospitality means putting real care into how a stay feels."
Whether stays at these properties count towards Radisson's current multi-brand promotion is not confirmed.
The Bottom Line
Air India's January 2027 deadline for Heathrow cabin upgrades is a concrete commitment, and passengers on the Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru routes will be the primary beneficiaries. The two remaining UK routes, Gatwick to Ahmedabad and Birmingham to Amritsar, still depend on refurbishment timelines holding into 2027.
The return of Priority Pass access at Doha is straightforwardly good news for cardholders transiting Hamad International, restoring an option that disappeared without warning in May. For Radisson members, the Guild Hotels situation is worth watching, though the loyalty mechanics remain unclear for now.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
Advertise with us Your brand, in front of an aviation audience Home page and in-article placements, sold directly, one advertiser per slot. From £250 a year. See the rates
.jpg){kind=link}