Quick bite zones

Scattered across the lounge are Quick Bite stations featuring pre-packed salads, sandwiches, and smoothies for travellers with very little time to spare. It’s a small detail, but an important one.

Nostalgia: shaken, not stirred

Designed as a tribute to JRD Tata, the Aviator’s Bar mimics a jet engine in motion and the high seating references the propellers of a Puss Moth, once flown by the Air India founder.

The bar menu features the signature cocktail, Limitless (gin-based with hibiscus, rose, and gold foil), which represents Air India’s future possibilities, and the Maharaja Manhattan (a Manhattan reinterpreted with peppercorn bitters from South India). Both cocktail and mocktail versions are available, and the bartenders handle volume without losing theatre.

India to the world, and back again

Instead of a single buffet, the lounge is divided into culinary stations. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian live counters are separate, while the wider buffet pulls from across India and beyond. You’ll find Chettinad flavours, Punjabi staples, Kashmiri kahwa, and global dishes, like Chicken Adobo, inspired by new international routes. There’s also a cold platter section with temperature-controlled displays, a dedicated salad bar, and a dessert station that quietly steals the show.

Given that it is India’s national drink, tea finds its space here as well. Business Class guests are served Organic India teas, while First Class guests are offered the premium 1868 teas. There’s even a rotating ‘tea of the month’ concept that turns amenities into memories.

Quiet comforts

As you move deeper, the energy softens. The Globetrotter’s Study (seen above) is a library-style space for quiet work and calls. Bookshelves line the walls, Wi-Fi is stable, and the seating encourages focus.

Some artwork uses old electrical boards and bolts from Air India’s Boeing 747s, weaving aviation history into the décor. There’s also a charming postcard concept, inspired by India’s first-ever flight being a mail flight. Guests can write and mail postcards from the lounge — delightfully old-school in an era of instant messaging.

If you still have hours before departure, the Serenity Pods at the far end of the Business Class lounge are for you. A low-light, low-noise zone with recliners, this is a valuable feature for Indian hubs, where red-eye departures dominate. It also supports Air India’s vision of making Delhi a Southeast Asia-to-Europe layover hub.

First class: a different tone

In the First Class section, the Crystal Bar is anchored by a dramatic ceiling-to-floor chandelier made from over 1,500 crystals.

The drinks selection steps up accordingly: from Moët & Chandon champagne to sparkling wines, whiskies, gins, and bespoke cocktails. Access is limited to First Class guests. Dining here is entirely à la carte. Italian marble tables, leather upholstery and curated artwork evoke a luxury restaurant, while a live show kitchen allows chefs to finish dishes in front of guests and accommodate customisation. This level of interaction is rare in airport lounges.

For aviation enthusiasts, there is a table right by the tarmac to watch planes go by.

The final polish

First Class guests also have access to private Sleep Suites for short naps or quiet work, equipped with minibars, work desks, and screens. There are also pods where guests can finish tasks or relax. Shower rooms and washrooms with Vista-patterned windows, custom lighting and premium materials make it feel more boutique hotel than airport facility.

The new Maharaja Lounge at Terminal 3 is built around how passengers actually travel: some in a rush, some hungry, some celebrating, some simply seeking quiet. If this is the benchmark Air India intends to set across its network, the Maharaja is no longer just a mascot. He might just be back in residence.

Ajay Awtaney is the Founder and Editor of Live From A Lounge