Air India welcomed the first of 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, registered VT JRA, in the airline’s bold new livery, marking a turning point in its ongoing transformation story.
The aircraft arrived at New Delhi at 13:46 Hrs (local time) from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France.
The delivery flight, operated using a special call sign AI350, was welcomed by Air India representatives.
Air India’s Senior Commander Capt. Monika Batra Vaidya, who is among the first few Indian pilots to be trained on the A350, was on board as an observer.
The airline leads the way in catalysing the renaissance of Indian aviation, inducting the first new widebody fleet type in India in more than a decade, and thus, becoming the first Indian airline to fly the A350.
It was also the first Indian airline to have inducted the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet type in 2012.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, 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.”
“As a symbol of the new age of flying, the A350 promises a world-class, long-haul travel experience on our non-stop routes, providing an unparalleled 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.
The airline’s A350 will enter commercial service in January 2024, initially operating domestically for crew familiarisation, 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 A350-900 aircraft comes 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 a superior flying experience.
The aircraft is the first of 20 Airbus A350-900s on order, with five more scheduled for deliveries through March 2024. Air India’s firm orders for 250 new aircraft with Airbus include 20 A350-1000.
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. The airline’s cabin crew and pilots will be seen in the new uniforms starting with the entry of service of the A350.
About Air India:
Founded by the legendary JRD Tata, Air India pioneered India’s aviation sector.
Since its first flight on October 15, 1932, the airline has built an extensive domestic network with non-stop flights to cities around the world, across the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Far-East, South-East Asia, Australia, and the Gulf.
After 69 years as a government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group in January 2022.
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