A sales campaign launched by Airbus in 2022 finally culminated with Air India taking delivery of the airline’s first A350-900 aircraft in December 2023. Since then, the airline has received the initial batch of six A350-900 aircraft. Air India operates the A350s on domestic routes apart from one daily rotation to Dubai from Delhi and Mumbai each.
Air India has announced that it will deploy the A350-900 aircraft on international long-haul flights. The first sector where Air India will take the aircraft abroad will be Delhi—London Heathrow and back, effective September 1, 2024, twice daily.
Air India will operate flights to New York JFK with the A350-900 from November 1, 2024, and Newark will follow.
Air India today announced its flagship A350-900 aircraft will operate Delhi-New York JFK flights from November 1, 2024, and Delhi-Newark flights from January 2, 2025, thus transforming its passenger experience on these strategically important routes.
The A350 deployment will introduce Air India’s Premium Economy class experience for the first time on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. It will offer guests the choice of 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration in a dedicated, upscale cabin that offers extra legroom and other enhancements. With the deployment of the A350, 60% of all Air India flights to the U.S. will feature new or upgraded cabin interiors.
Here is the schedule for the New York flights, which will operate with the A350-900 aircraft.
Once these A350s arrive on the JFK and EWR stations, after the Extended Diversion Time Operations (EDTO) approvals come through, this will be how the network map with the A350 aircraft will look like.
Over the last few months, Air India has been progressively replacing its legacy aircraft with newer ones on other U.S. routes as part of its continued effort to offer guests a significantly improved flying experience. These aircraft feature upgraded seats and inflight entertainment systems.
The airline now operates its three class-configured Boeing 777-200LR on all non-stop flights between India (Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru) and San Francisco with upgraded cabin interiors, except a 3x weekly Delhi-San Francisco service. Each aircraft features 28 private suites with full-flat beds in Business, 48 wide seats in Premium Economy with extra legroom, 212 seats in Economy, and updated IFE systems. This allows Air India to consistently offer Premium Economy options to travellers taking non-stop flights to/from San Francisco.
Air India also operates a three-class-configured Boeing 777-300ER on all flights from Mumbai to New York JFK and Newark, featuring eight luxurious First class suites, 40 full-flat beds in Business, 280 seats in Economy, and updated IFE systems.
What should you expect on board Air India’s A350-900?
Air India’s A350-900 aircraft comes in a three-class cabin configuration with 316 seats designed by Collins Aerospace: 28 private Business Class suites with full-flat beds, 24 Premium Economy seats with extra legroom and multiple other differentiating features, and 264 spacious Economy Class seats. All seats on the aircraft feature the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system and HD screens to provide a superior flying experience. You can read all about the products in the cabin in our detailed note.
Air India’s A350-900 Business Class
Air India’s A350-900 Premium Economy Class
Air India’s A350-900 Economy Class
Air India’s A350 flights will also feature new soft products and award-winning guest enhancements unveiled earlier this year. These enhancements include new chinaware, tableware and glassware, bedding, and updated amenity kits for Business and Premium Economy guests, which were exclusively designed by Ferragamo and TUMI.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said:
We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our A350s to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement.
The new seats, new inflight entertainment systems, and new soft products will together provide our guests with great comfort and service that are representative of the new Air India. We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travelers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States.
This now means that all six A350 aircraft that Air India has delivered will be used on rotations (two on the DEL-JFK route, two on the DEL-EWR route, and two on the DEL-LHR route). These are some of the most premium routes for Air India, and they will do well to upgrade their product on these routes. Also, they need to withdraw some aircraft from service, to put them into retrofit, as planned. With the withdrawal of the 777s, it will mean the First Class will go away (with Premium Economy coming in).
Bottomline
Air India has launched the first international ultra-long-haul flights for sale. The flights will be operated between Delhi and New York JFK effective November 1, 2024, and between Delhi and Newark effective January 2, 2025. Book your tickets here.
Are you going to be on one of the flights operated by Air India to New York or Newark?
Liked our articles and our efforts? Please pay an amount you are comfortable with; an amount you believe is the fair price for the content you have consumed. Please enter an amount in the box below and click on the button to pay; you can use Netbanking, Debit/Credit Cards, UPI, QR codes, or any Wallet to pay. Every contribution helps cover the cost of the content generated for your benefit.
(Important: to receive confirmation and details of your transaction, please enter a valid email address in the pop-up form that will appear after you click the ‘Pay Now’ button. For international transactions, use Paypal to process the transaction.)
We are not putting our articles behind any paywall where you are asked to pay before you read an article. We are asking you to pay after you have read the article if you are satisfied with the quality and our efforts.
Is Air India planning to bring newer planes to Delhi- Washington D.C sector any time soon?
I hear so many complaints from our friends about the pathetic conditions of the interior, including the business class.
Air India needs to do something fast before another airline beats then to the punch!
@R Singh, no. Once the retrofit of the B787s happens, then one should expect a new(er) 3-class cabin product on the 787 though.
what happens on the 2 days the aircraft do not operator DEL – EWR
@Anumit, they need to also plan for maintenance, downtime, unfortunate events such as a diversion, etc. that is where the buffer is.
Travelled Del/Ewr on business class. True, ticket price is shamelessly expensive., Indifferent crew and food. Returning to India on 9th August and expecting to go through same experience….
About time. The current aircraft on Newark-Delhi sectors are unfit for human passengers. Still broken seats and arm rests, no entertainment or flight path, no reading lights. What is one to do for 15 hours? Business class and economy, 3 toilets not working. None in biz class. Carpets and seat covers have been changed but it makes little difference if seat and tray are broken. Miniscule amount of red wine in a coffee cardboard container. Was offered ice in my red wine! Food was ok but no stable tray to place it on. Ticket was shamelessly expensive, to boot. So much for Tata’s renowned service and being a great Business house. All good PR. No substance!
Any plans for LAX-HYD?
Will Air India also replace the rude and lousy cabin crew’s on the US sector who spoils the passenger experience.