- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson called the A350 a game-changer that will not only elevate the airline’s passenger experience but also open up new routes and opportunities for expansion.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday (18) inaugurated the first Airbus A350 aircraft of India, marking the arrival of the state-of-the-art aircraft to Air India’s fleet and the country’s growing stature as a major player in the global aviation industry.
The inauguration took place on the inaugural day of Wings India 2024, a major event in the civil aviation sector, at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, the capital of the southern state of Telangana.
Calling the A350 a game-changer for Air India, the airline’s chief executive officer and managing director, Campbell Wilson, said, “It will not only elevate our passenger experience but also open up new routes and opportunities for expansion. Together with the full interior refit of our legacy widebody aircraft commencing mid-2024, this upgradation of fleet and product is a key pillar of returning Air India to the upper echelons of world aviation.”
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The arrival of the aircraft coincides with Air India’s rapid growth and transformation. The carrier is undergoing a comprehensive overhaul under the Tata Group and aims at renewing its fleet and expanding the global route network, besides bettering its service offerings and emerging as a leader in global aviation.
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Equipped with powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the Airbus A350 delivers optimal performance, environmental benefits, and superior passenger comfort. Its impressive range of up to 9,700nm (18,000 km) enables non-stop flights from India to distant destinations in the United States, Canada and Australia.
The A350 offers wider cabins, larger windows, mood lighting, and advanced entertainment systems, and comes with world-class cabin products, setting a new benchmark for passenger experience on Indian airlines. Air India’s A350-900 comes with 316 seats in a three-class cabin configuration.
Business class aboard Air India’s A350-900 features 28 private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each boasting direct aisle access and sliding privacy doors. At the touch of a button, the suite chairs convert into full-sized beds, becoming guests’ own private cocoons in the sky. Each suite has a personal wardrobe and ample stowage space for electronic devices, amenities, and shoes, as well as a conveniently located mirror, catering to every traveller’s needs. A 21-inch HD touchscreen and video handset provide an immersive entertainment experience, while universal A/C and USB-A power outlets ensure mobile and electronic devices stay charged.
The exclusive premium economy cabin on Air India’s A350-900 has 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, offering ample legroom with 38 inches of seat pitch, 18.5 inches of seat width, and eight-inch recline. Each seat has a four-way adjustable headrest and leg rest with a foot paddle for customised comfort, and a 13.3-inch HD touchscreen, and universal AC and USB-A power outlets.
The Economy has 264 seats in a 3-4-3 configuration, each with 31 inches of seat pitch, 17.5 inches of seat width, and 6 inches of recline, 4-way adjustable headrest, and a 12-inch HD touchscreen for a comfortable, yet stylish flying experience that delivers value for money.
Air India’s A350 enters commercial service on 22 January 2024, initially operating domestically for crew familiarisation on flights to/from cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. The aircraft will be subsequently deployed on international routes.
Air India’s first A350, registered VT-JRA, is the first of Air India’s 20 Airbus A350-900 on order, with five more scheduled for deliveries through March 2024. Air India’s firm orders for 250 new aircraft with Airbus include 20 A350-1000 as well.
