Dubai selected as Air India’s first international destination for new A350-900s

8 months ago Editor

Air India is gearing up to expand the horizons of its new Airbus A350-900 fleet by introducing its first international route after initially deploying the aircraft on domestic services.

Scheduled for May 1, 2024, the inaugural international flight will take off from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi bound for Dubai International Airport (DXB). Despite Dubai being a relatively short distance for the A350-900, which boasts a remarkable range of over 9,000 miles, this marks a significant milestone for Air India.

The flight to Dubai, typically serviced by Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, signals the airline’s gradual transition of the A350-900 onto longer routes as both the airline and its crew become more accustomed to the aircraft and operations to Dubai.

This development follows the maiden commercial flight of Air India’s first Airbus A350-900, registered as VT-JRA, which took off from Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) and landed at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport (BOM) in late January 2024. Notably, this marked not only a significant milestone for Air India but also for India itself, as the country had never operated an Airbus A350 before.

The introduction of the A350-900 into Air India’s fleet comes after a twist of fate. Originally intended for Russian carrier Aeroflot, the aircraft became available for purchase following the imposition of sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Air India’s A350-900 configuration features a three-class cabin layout, accommodating a total of 316 passengers. This includes 28 private business suites offering full-flat beds, 24 premium economy seats boasting extra legroom and enhanced amenities, and 264 economy seats.

As of April 9, 2024, Air India operates a fleet of three Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with a fourth joining the fleet recently, according to ch-aviation.com.