Air India Schedules First Flights With New Airbus A350

After taking delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 (VT-JRA) in December, Air India is gearing up to launch operations later this month. The brand-new aircraft is scheduled to begin flights with the Indian flag carrier on January 22, with an inaugural service between Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai.

Cleared for take-off

Initial operations will see the aircraft connect high-demand regional routes from India’s largest cities, including Chennai International Airport (MAA), Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad, allowing for the crew to familiarise themselves with the jet.

Flights are set to operate up to six times per week, with the exception of services between Delhi and Bengaluru, which are only scheduled for Tuesdays. The Delhi – Bengaluru route will begin on January 23. Bookings are now open for all new A350 flights on Air India’s website.

In a statement shared with The Hindustan Times, Air India celebrated the upcoming launch of operations with its first of 20 forthcoming A350. The aircraft type’s network is set to expand later this year, with at least five more airframes expected during Q1 2024.

“Ushering in the most visible manifestation of Air India’s epic transformation journey, the A350 aircraft will be later deployed for longer-haul flights to destinations across continents.”

As part of Air India’s modernization efforts under Tata Group, the A350 boasts a fresh and updated cabin interior configured in a three-class layout, providing capacity for 316 passengers.

With all seating provided by Collins Aerospace, Air India’s A350 fleet will seat 264 passengers in economy class and 24 in premium economy, which offers enhanced features and more legroom. Business class comes equipped with 28 private suites featuring lie-flat bedding, a relatively luxurious feature not commonly featured outside of first-class products.

Other additions to Air India’s A350 cabin include Panasonic’s eX3 HD in-flight entertainment system (IFE) and a refreshed color pallet, reflecting the airline’s overhauled image.

Related

First Look: Air India Reveals The Interiors Of Its Airbus A350 Aircraft

The aircraft landed in Delhi on December 23.

The future is here

Moving into 2024, Air India is set to shake off the dust of its pre-Tata operations, holding plans to re-establish itself as a firm competitor to airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways and expand its international network.

As part of its rebranding efforts, Air India will gradually take on 470 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, mixing wide and narrowbody jets to support its international and regional operations. In December, the airline made several changes to its Airbus order, focusing on A321neo and A350 operations, with its order split between the -900 and -1000 variants.

Photo: Air India

Air India could be looking to expand its relationship with Airbus into a partnership, with reports that the carrier had begun talks with the European aircraft manufacturer to open a $420 million pilot training facility. According to The Economic Times, both parties would hold a 50% stake in the proposed facility, offering training on A320neo and A350 family aircraft. The in-house facility could become one of the largest in South Asia, potentially housing up to 20 simulators.

Related

Air India CEO Welcomes The Dawn Of A New Era For Flag Carrier

A rejuvenation from top to bottom is on the cards for the Star-Alliance member.

What routes would you like Air India to deploy its Airbus A350 on? Let us know in the comments.