Air India marked a significant milestone on Monday (January 22) as it commenced the commercial operations of its first wide-body Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
The inaugural flight, AI-589, took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport en route to Chennai, ushering in a new era of enhanced travel experience for passengers. In a statement, Air India expressed the successful departure of the flight with a full-capacity load of passengers.
“Air India flight AI-589 took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday for Chennai, with a full-capacity load of passengers,” the airline said in a statement.
Airbus A350-900 aircraft features and operations
The A350-900 aircraft boasts a spacious three-class cabin configuration, accommodating a total of 316 passengers. The premium features include 28 private business suites with full-flat beds, 24 premium economy seats, and 264 economy seats, offering a diverse range of options for travelers.
The initial phase of operations for the A350 will be focused on domestic routes, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. This strategic move serves the dual purpose of crew familiarisation and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Following this phase, the aircraft will be strategically deployed for long-haul flights, connecting destinations across continents. This expansion will further bolster Air India’s growing wide-body fleet, which includes both owned and recently leased aircraft.
Air India’s fleet modernisation
Late last month, the initial Airbus A350-900 aircraft from Air India’s order of 20, bearing the registration VT-JRA, touched down at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. This acquisition is a crucial element of Air India’s broader plan to modernise its fleet, evident in the comprehensive order for 470 new aircraft placed by the airline early last year.