Air India proudly welcomed its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft, registered as VT-JRA, marking a significant milestone in its transformation and a massive step towards redefining its fleet. With the airline’s new livery on it, this aircraft represents the start of a new chapter in the airline’s history. The official statement from Air India celebrates this arrival as a major milestone. Air India left Toulouse, France, at 1:45 pm and arrived in New Delhi.
Air India Welcomes First Airbus A350-900
India’s first @Airbus A350-900 has come home in the bold, new Air India livery, and it received a grand welcome at @DelhiAirport.
It is touchdown of a new Air India. For a new, resurgent India.#AI350 #AirIndia #FlyAI #ThisIsNewAirIndia pic.twitter.com/V1vKk6m81V
— Air India (@airindia) December 23, 2023
Representatives from Air India enthusiastically welcomed the delivery flight, which was flown under the special call sign AI350. According to ET Now News, Senior Commander Capt. Monika Batra Vaidya, an early Indian pilot trained especially for the A350, was one of the distinguished guests on board. With this launch, Air India adamantly asserts its claim to be the first Indian airline to fly the A350. It is a widebody fleet type that has not been seen in India for more than ten years.
Air India has shown leadership in adopting state-of-the-art aircraft on previous occasions. Being the first Indian airline to welcome the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in 2012, it created aviation history. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson of Air India expressed his happiness, pointing out that the A350 represents more than just machinery. He shared that it is a symbol of the workforce’s collective commitment to the airline’s continuous transformation and the country’s aviation comeback on the international scene.
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First look inside our stunning A350-900!
28 luxurious and private suites with full-flat beds in Business Class, 24 Premium Economy seats with extra legroom and comfort, and 264 spacious & ergonomic Economy Class seats.
Where will you fly first? ✈#AI350 #AirIndia #FlyAI… pic.twitter.com/5BfZJfMdhy
— Air India (@airindia) December 23, 2023
Even though the A350 is scheduled to start flying for pay in January 2024, it will soon be travelling across continents after making its first domestic flight for crew familiarisation. With 316 finely crafted seats designed by Collins Aerospace, the aircraft has an elegant three-class cabin arrangement. This arrangement consists of 264 roomy Economy Class seats, 24 comfortable Premium Economy seats, and 28 private Business Class suites.
The modern Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system and high-definition screens installed in every seat further enhance the travel experience. According to ET Now News reports, this is just the start of a journey that will see five more of the twenty A350s that Air India has ordered delivered by March 2024. The airline also has firm orders for twenty A350-1000 models and 250 additional Airbus aircraft.
A new range of uniforms for the cabin and cockpit crew was also displayed by Air India, which was painstakingly chosen by renowned Indian designer Manish Malhotra.
Cover Image Courtesy: Air India/X
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