Air India unveils India’s maiden Airbus A350 with striking new brand livery

Monday, December 25, 2023

Air India, the prominent global airline of India, joyfully received its inaugural Airbus A350-900 aircraft, registered as VT-JRA, adorned in the airline’s fresh new design, signaling a pivotal moment in its ongoing journey of transformation.

Arriving in New Delhi at 13:46 Hrs (local time) today from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France, this delivery flight, operating under the call sign AI350, was warmly greeted by Air India representatives. Onboard as an observer was Air India’s Senior Commander Capt. Monika Batra Vaidya, one of the initial Indian pilots trained on the A350.

By introducing the first new widebody fleet type in India in over a decade, Air India leads the charge in rejuvenating Indian aviation, proudly becoming the pioneer among Indian airlines to operate the A350. Notably, Air India had also been the first to introduce the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet type in 2012.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “This moment marks a
red-letter day for all of us at Air India. The A350 is not just metal and engines; it’s the flying embodiment of the relentless efforts of all Air India employees towards our airline’s continuing transformation and of our commitment to setting new benchmarks. It is also, in many ways, a declaration of Indian aviation’s resurgence on the world stage.”

Wilson further added, “As an emblem of modern air travel, the A350 assures a top-notch, long-haul travel experience on our direct routes, offering an unparalleled level of comfort. Its exceptional flight efficiency and cutting-edge technology underscore our commitment to successful commercial operations and our sustainability objectives.”

Air India’s A350 will commence commercial service in January 2024, initially operating domestically for crew training before embarking on longer flights to destinations spanning continents. Detailed plans for commercial operations involving the A350 will be announced in the forthcoming weeks.

Configured with a three-class cabin layout comprising 316 seats meticulously designed by Collins Aerospace, the A350 offers 28 exclusive Business Class suites with fully flat beds, 24 Premium Economy seats featuring extra legroom and unique amenities, and 264 spacious Economy Class seats. All seats boast the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system and high-definition screens, ensuring an exceptional flying experience.

This A350 aircraft is the first of the 20 Airbus A350-900s ordered by Air India, with five more scheduled for delivery by March 2024. Additionally, Air India’s firm orders with Airbus include 20 A350-1000s among the 250 new aircraft.

Recently, the airline embarked on unveiling its fresh global brand identity across various touchpoints for guests, launching a revamped consumer-centric website and mobile app. Preceding this, the airline revealed the highly anticipated new collection of uniforms designed by renowned Indian couturier, Manish Malhotra, which will be worn by Air India’s cabin crew and pilots upon the introduction of the A350 into service.

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