Air India transitions Delhi-Newark flights entirely to Airbus A350

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Air India transitions Delhi-Newark flights entirely to Airbus A350

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Jan 2, 2025

Air India has fully transitioned its Delhi to New York City flights to the Airbus A350-900 aircraft, featuring upgraded cabin interiors. The final route to switch is from Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport. Services from Mumbai to both New York JFK and Newark continue using the A350.

The airline first introduced the A350 on US routes last year, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER with the A350-900 for flights between Delhi and New York JFK starting November 1.

The inaugural flight of Air India's Airbus A350 from Delhi to Newark landed in the United States earlier today. The plane departed from Delhi on Wednesday afternoon and arrived in Newark at 06:55 local time on Thursday. The flight was operated by VT-JRH, a one-year-old Airbus A350. According to ch-aviation data, it was the fifth of six A350s delivered to Air India.

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Flight time for this journey was 14 hours and 35 minutes. The aircraft has since left Newark for its return trip to Delhi as AI106. Additionally, Air India promoted its "new experience" by sending cabin crew on a tour of New York's landmarks in new uniforms designed by Manish Malhotra.

The new Airbus A350 cabins integrate seamlessly with Air India's identity and feature no visual remnants of previous ownership. They offer award-winning inflight entertainment systems with over 3000 hours of content, complimentary WiFi for all passengers, enhanced catering, new serviceware, private suites in Business Class, and Premium Economy seating.

In Business Class, Air India offers private suites that can convert into fully flat beds with direct aisle access and added privacy features. Premium Economy includes extra-legroom seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration within a dedicated cabin.

Economy Class seats have a pitch of 31 inches, width of 17.5 inches, a recline of six inches, adjustable headrests, modern screens with USB outlets, blankets, pillows, and full-course meals.

Air India's transformation aims to re-establish itself as a world-class carrier focused on quality service after returning to Tata Sons' control in 2022 following decades under government ownership. As part of this overhaul, the airline has ordered hundreds of new planes across several models including the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 787-9.

Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson highlighted constraints due to limited aircraft availability at privatization: "At the point of privatization...India only had 43 widebody aircraft...our limiting factor is access to aircraft and the pace at which they can be delivered."