Air India celebrates the arrival of India’s inaugural Airbus A350, featuring a distinctive new brand livery, marking a crucial juncture in the airline’s transformative journey. The Airbus A350-900, with the registration VT-JRA, touched down in New Delhi from Toulouse, France, today at 13:46 Hrs (local time). This delivery is a momentous achievement, symbolizing Air India’s leadership in rejuvenating Indian aviation with the introduction of the nation’s first new widebody fleet type in more than ten years.
Capt. Monika Batra Vaidya, Air India’s Senior Commander and one of the first Indian pilots trained on the A350, was on board as an observer during the special delivery flight, operating under the call sign AI350.
Air India, having previously pioneered the induction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in 2012, continues to blaze trails by being the first Indian airline to operate the A350. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India, expressed the historic nature of this moment, emphasizing that the A350 symbolizes the collective dedication of Air India employees to the airline’s transformation and a declaration of India’s aviation resurgence on the global stage.
Wilson highlighted the A350’s role in providing a world-class, long-haul travel experience on non-stop routes, citing its exceptional flight economics and state-of-the-art technology. The A350 is set to enter commercial service in January 2024, initially operating domestically for crew familiarization before embarking on longer-haul flights across continents.
The A350-900, configured with a three-class cabin by Collins Aerospace, features 316 seats. These include 28 private Business Class suites, 24 Premium Economy seats with extra legroom, and 264 spacious Economy Class seats. All seats are equipped with the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system and HD screens for an unparalleled flying experience.
Air India has a total order of 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with five more scheduled for delivery by March 2024. The airline’s firm orders with Airbus encompass 250 new aircraft, including 20 A350-1000s.
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