Air India gets India’s first A350-900 wide body aircraft; check images & other details

Air India Airbus A350-900 arrives in Delhi: Air India’s first wide body Airbus A350-900 aircraft arrived in Delhi on Saturday. The first of the 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft for India is registered as VT-JRA and marks a significant step in th airline’s fleet expansion plans.
The aircraft arrived in Delhi today at 13:46 Hrs (local time), completing its journey from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France.Operating under the callsign AI350, the delivery flight was received by Air India representatives. Among the team was Air India’s Senior Commander, Capt. Monika Batra Vaidya, one of the first Indian pilots trained on the A350, who participated in the flight as an observer.
According to Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, “the A350 promises a world-class, long-haul travel experience on non-stop routes.”

Air India’s Airbus A350-900 will begin commercial operations in January 2024. Initially, it will serve domestically for crew training before venturing into international flights spanning various continents.
The A350-900 boasts a three-class cabin configuration with a total of 316 seats. According to Air India, these include 28 Business Class suites with full-flat beds, 24 Premium Economy seats featuring additional legroom and distinctive features, and 264 Economy Class seats. All seats are equipped with in-flight entertainment systems and HD screens.

The A350-900 also showcases the airline’s new livery and interior. The airline anticipates receiving an additional five planes by March 2024.
According to Wilson, Air India has now become the first Indian carrier to have this type of aircraft. He has also said that there are still several post-arrival regulatory processes that need to be completed before the aircraft can carry passengers. These include customs clearance, various DGCA checks on equipment, and a series of ground tests and proving flights to demonstrate procedures in action.

The Tata Group-owned full-service carrier has already obtained regulatory approval for engineering line maintenance of the A350 aircraft. This is a significant achievement as it ensures the smooth operation and maintenance of all six A350 aircraft that will be inducted into the fleet.
Air India also recently unveiled its new uniforms for its cabin and cockpit crew.