NEW DELHI: Air India airlines on Tuesday announced their ‘basic fare option’ which will not include complementary meals on domestic flights. This decision comes as the airlines deals with rising operating costs and overall losses.The airline said the newly introduced Basic fare will be entirely optional, while passengers will continue to have access to the existing Value, Classic and Flex fare categories.The Value, Classic and Flex options include complimentary meals and a range of bundled benefits, with features increasing at higher price points.The airline clarified that the ‘Basic fare’ adds another choice for travellers, particularly those who are price-sensitive and prefer a more unbundled travel option but does not remove meals entirely.Air India further clarified that, “Being trialled on select domestic routes, the Basic fare is available for travel in Economy Class and is designed for travellers who prioritise value,” as quoted by Air india newsroom“The Basic fare is entirely optional, and travellers continue to have the choice of booking across Air India’s existing fare families – Value, Classic, and Flex – each of which includes complimentary meals and a range of bundled benefits at progressively higher price points. The introduction of Basic fare simply adds another layer of choice, particularly for price-conscious travellers who prefer a more unbundled offering,” it added.It also stated that it’s a pilot phase right now and that a decision on whether to continue the Basic fare option will be taken after evaluating customer response and feedback.