For most air passengers a nine hour flight involves the prospect of cramped leg room, a troubled sleep and meals delivered with plastic cutlery.

For first class customers of Jet Airways, however, the experience is a little more civilised.

Passengers prepared to pay out just over £4,000 for a trip to Delhi will get to relax in their own 26 sq foot private room, separated from the rest of the cabin with colonial-style sliding doors.

And at £1200 cheaper than a first class ticket with British Airways, it is a luxury service that the airline - dubbed the “Orient Express of the Skies” - is confident will prove popular with customers.

The exclusive mini-suites boast a wall-mounted 23 inch flat TV screen with more than 200 hours of the latest movies as well as a seat that converts into a seven foot bed - the world’s longest.

Each passenger even has his or her personal hanging wardrobe as well as office facilities for working. Meals are served on hand-painted Bernardaud porcelain dinnerware with Dom Perignon and Krug among the champagnes on offer.

Each of Jet Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will have eight of the luxury suites and the first flight takes off from Heathrow on May 5.

The cabins were unveiled as the airline announced a £1.8billion investment and expansion plan plan including the purchase of 30 new long-haul aircraft.

A spokeswoman for the airline said: “We have created a suite in the sky, a home away from home, which offers the ultimate in privacy, luxury and comfort for discerning customers.”

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