A sales campaign launched by Airbus in 2022 finally culminated with Air India taking delivery of the airline’s first A350-900 aircraft in December 2023. The plane was flown into Delhi Airport. Since then, the airline has received three more A350-900 aircraft, with the fifth one arriving in India in April 2024.
Air India A350 operations so far.
As is the norm, when a new aircraft type enters the fleet, it is not directly sent for international operations. The cockpit crew needs to operate the flight domestically to gain experience with the plane and familiarise themselves with it. The requirement is 100 sectors. Now that Air India has the 100 required sectors, it is taking baby steps into international flights for the aircraft.
Air India put VT-JRA into commercial service on January 22, 2024, and VT-JRB into commercial service on February 15, 2024. Both aircraft are based in Bengaluru and fly between Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Once a week, they will fly between Bengaluru and Delhi for checks and maintenance. I flew all three cabins in one go, and so far, managed to write about the first leg in business class. Since then, Air India deployed the aircraft on international flights. The first sector where Air India took the aircraft abroad was Delhi – Dubai and back, effective May 1, 2024.
The schedule of flights is as follows.
- AI 995 operating DEL – DXB / 2045 – 2245 / operates daily
- AI 996 operating DXB – DEL / 0015 – 0455 / operates daily
This flight was being operated with the Boeing 787-8 of Air India and then taken over by the A350-900 effective May 1, 2024.
Air India to operate flights between Mumbai and Dubai with the A350-900 effective June 1, 2024
Air India is now going to continue to deploy the aircraft on international flights, switching flights between Mumbai and Dubai, effective June 1, 2024.
The schedule of flights is as follows.
- AI 983 operating BOM – DXB / 2025 – 2155 / operates daily
- AI 984 operating DXB – BOM / 2340 – 0420 / operates daily
This flight is operated with the Boeing 787-8 of Air India at the moment and will be taken over by the A350-900 effective June 1, 2024. As with the Delhi operations, the A350-900 flights to this route will be operated only through August 31, 2024. On September 1, the flights will revert to the Boeing 787-8 again. September 1 will be perhaps the day when the aircraft goes on a long-haul flight.
Flights are on sale now, although the route shows the Boeing 787-8 and not the A350.
What should you expect on board Air India’s A350-900?
Air India’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. You can read all about the products in the cabin in our detailed note.
Air India’s A350-900 Business Class
Air India’s A350-900 Premium Economy Class
Air India’s A350-900 Economy Class
While the Airbus A350-900 to Dubai might just be to monitor the aircraft’s and the pilots’ performance before flying it further to Europe, it could also be a statement of intent to the colleagues in Dubai, which have a nice airline operation in India. But it is also a market that pays willingly for a good premium product. With flights to Dubai, only one set of crew can operate the onward and return flights.
Bottomline
Air India has put out international flights for sale, which will be operated with its A350-900 aircraft between Mumbai and Dubai once daily. Flights between Delhi and Dubai, once daily, are already operate with the A350-900. Book your tickets here. The flights to Dubai with the A350-900 launch on June 1, 2024.
Are you heading on one of the flights operated by Air India to Dubai?
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