Air India took a lead on rival airline IndiGo by deploying the first Airbus A350 on the Delhi-Dubai route. This is the airline’s first deployment on an international route. IndiGo has placed an order for 100 widebody jets with Airbus.
Air India deployed its flagship Airbus A350 jet on the Delhi Dubai route. (Photo credit: X/ @airindia)
New Delhi: Tata Group-owned Air India deployed its first Airbus A350 aircraft on international routes with the first Delhi-Dubai flight on Wednesday. The air carrier plans to announce more international routes with the A350 widebody jet going forward. The Air India Airbus A350 flight from Delhi to Dubai can seat 316 passengers across 3 travel classes. Air India has become the first air carrier in India to deploy an A350-900 jet on the India-Dubai route.
The airline is reportedly also likely to deploy the jet on the London route. Air India started inducting the A350 planes this year and are being used for domestic flights as well.
A new ‘tail’ unfolds. Our flagship A350 landed at Dubai International Airport last night, and is now operating daily flights between Delhi and Dubai. ✈
When are you flying on us next?#FlyAI #AirIndia #A350 #Dubai pic.twitter.com/vOV88TQKay
— Air India (@airindia) May 2, 2024
Air India placed an order for 40 A350 jets with Airbus. The airline’s fleet currently comprises 4 of these jets. Air India operates 32 weekly flights from Delhi to Dubai. It operates another 40 flights to Dubai from 4 other cities in India.
Air India takes lead on IndiGo
The deployment of A350 jets by Air India on the Delhi-Dubai route follows reports of IndiGo ordering 100 A350-900 jets from Airbus last week. The order was placed with an eye on the international sector, with a focus on Asia and Europe as of now. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers in an internal communication said IndiGo plans to fly passengers from “Ahmedabad to Amsterdam, Surat to Seoul and Patna to Paris.”
The airline is planning to develop India into an international flying hub on the lines of Dubai which is used by Emirates and Etihad Airlines to ferry Asian passengers abroad and Western passengers to destinations in Asia.
Air India A350 jet features
The Air India A350 jet boasts of the following features:
- 28 private Business suites
- 24 Premium Economy Seats
- 264 Economy seats
The top-end suite will feature a personal wardrobe with stowage space for electronics. It will include a 21-inch HD touchscreen apart from a video infotainment and entertainment handset.
