- Sunday, May 19, 2024
The launch of the flights saw pre-departure celebrations at both the airports in Delhi and Dubai, where guests were given A350 memorabilia.
By: Twinkle Roy
AIR India on Wednesday (1) launched flight operations on Delhi-Dubai route with its new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, marking the international debut of the carrier’s recently acquired plane.
The beginning of the service makes Air India the only airline to operate the A350 aircraft connecting India with Dubai.
The launch of the flights saw pre-departure celebrations at both the airports in Delhi and Dubai, where guests were given A350 memorabilia.
It's a moment of celebration across countries as Air India's A350-900 departs on its first international flight. Here's how we celebrated this milestone at the Delhi & Dubai airports. #FlyAI #NewAirIndia #A350 #Dubai #AIConnections pic.twitter.com/6cbp3YunUE
— Air India (@airindia) May 2, 2024
Read: Dubai airport resumes operation after bad weather hits once again
In 2023, Air India, which is India’s flag carrier owned by Tata Group since 2022, firmed up its order for 250 Airbus planes and 220 new Boeing jets worth $70 billion at list prices.
Tata, an Indian conglomerate, has been investing billions of dollars in new investments to upgrade the airline’s fleet, better its service and broaden its network — both at home and abroad.
Air India at the moment operates 72 flights a week to Dubai from five Indian cities. Thirty-two of those flights are from Delhi.
Read: India Business Briefs: Air India extends Tel Aviv flight suspension till May 15
The Airbus A350-900, which is a long-range passenger aircraft, can accommodate 300-350 passengers in a three-class setup and boasts a range of 15,000 kilometres. It houses 8 private suites with full-flat beds in ‘Business’, 24 seats in a dedicated ‘Premium Economy’ cabin, and 264 seats in ‘Economy’, the airline said.
Earlier this year, Air India began integrating the A350s into its fleet. Subsequently, these aircraft have been used for domestic flights within the country to facilitate crew familiarization and ensure regulatory compliance.
(with agency inputs)
