India’s leading global airline, Air India welcomed the first A350-900 aircraft on Saturday, marking a turning point in its ongoing transformation story. It is first of Air India’s 20 Airbus A350-900 on order, with five more scheduled for deliveries through March 2024.
The aircraft arrived at New Delhi at 01:46 pm from the airbus facility in France’s Toulouse. The delivery flight, operated using a special call sign AI350 was welcomed by Air India representatives.
The new aircraft will enter commercial service in January 2024, initially operating domestically for crew familiarisation and then followed by longer-haul flying to destinations across continents. The schedule of commercial operations with the A350 will be announced in the coming weeks.
The airline’s Senior Commander Captain Monika Batra Vaidya, who is among the first few Indian pilots to be trained on A350, was on board as an observer.
Initially, the aircraft will be operated in short haul routes, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Campbell Wilson said on Friday. Air India, which plans to induct a total of six A350 planes in the first phase, will be the first Indian carrier to have this type of aircraft.
Talking about the latest arrival, Wilson said, “This moment marks a red-letter day for all of us at Air India. The A350 is not just metal and engines; it’s the flying embodiment of the relentless efforts of all Air India employees towards our airline’s continuing transformation and of our commitment to setting new benchmarks. It is also, in many ways, a declaration of Indian aviation’s resurgence on the world stage.”
He further called the A250, a symbol of the new age flying which promises a world-class, long-haul travel experience on non-stop routes, providing an unparallelled level of comfort. “Its excellent flight economics and state-of-the-art technology underscore our dedication to commercially successful operations and to achieving our sustainability goals,” Wilson added.
Earlier this week, the airline started the rollout of its new global brand identity across guest touchpoints, having launched a new consumer-facing website and mobile app. Last week, the airline unveiled its much–anticipated new collection of uniforms for cabin and cockpit crew designed by Indian celebrity couturier, Manish Malhotra. Air India’s cabin crew and pilots will be seen in the new uniforms starting with the entry of service of the A350.
About A350
Air India’s A350-900 aircraft come in a three-class cabin configuration with 316 seats designed by Collins Aerospace: 28 private Business Class suites with full-flat beds, 24 Premium Economy seats with extra legroom and multiple other differentiating features, and 264 spacious Economy Class seats. All seats on the aircraft feature the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system and HD screens to provide superior flying experience.
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