Air India’s flagship Airbus A350 makes ultra-long-haul debut on Delhi-New York route
Gurugram: Air India has launched its new Airbus A350 wide-body flagship on the Delhi-New York route, marking the airline’s entry into ultra long-haul operations with this aircraft model, the carrier said.
This makes the A350 the first new aircraft type inducted by an Indian carrier in over ten years.
The A350 will initially operate daily non-stop flights between Delhi and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport and is set to begin five weekly flights on the Delhi-Newark route starting January 2.
This expansion also marks the start of Air India’s deployment of the A350 on non-stop North American routes.
In the coming weeks, the airline will also introduce in-flight Wi-Fi service on A350-operated international flights.
Currently, most of Air India’s ultra-long-haul flights are operated with Boeing 777 aircraft, many of which are aging and have drawn complaints from travellers, reported Indian Express.
Air India’s fleet includes a significant number of older aircraft inherited from its period under government control, said the report.
Air India described the A350’s deployment as a “milestone” in its post-privatization transformation program, following the plane’s recent launch on the Delhi-London Heathrow route in September.
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Campbell Wilson noted the “exceptionally positive” feedback from guests on the Delhi-London route, saying, “We are excited to now bring it to New York.”
Wilson added that a comprehensive interior refit of existing planes will begin in 2025, alongside Air India’s acquisition of hundreds of new aircraft.
Air India A350 Business Class
The A350 offers an elevated in-flight experience with upgraded meal menus, new serviceware, bedding, and amenity kits for Business and Premium Economy classes, designed by Ferragamo and TUMI, respectively.
Air India A350 Premium Economy
The aircraft features the Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, with HD screens and over 3,000 hours of global content available in multiple languages.
Air India started receiving A350 aircraft from its large 2023 order of 470 Airbus and Boeing planes, with six A350s already delivered out of 40 ordered.
The A350-900 in Air India’s fleet seats 316 passengers in a three-class configuration—28 in Business, 24 in Premium Economy, and 264 in Economy—and has a range of over 15,000 km, suitable for long-haul operations.
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