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 launches double daily flights to London Heathrow with the A350-900.

Air India has launched its A350-900 aircraft on international long-haul flights, effective today. The first long-haul sector where Air India takes the plane is Delhi—London Heathrow and back, twice daily.

 The A350-900 replaces one flight operated with a Boeing 777-300ER and another with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. That accounts for 14 of 17 weekly flights moving to the A350-900 aircraft. As a result, an additional 336 seats will now be available on the Delhi-London Heathrow route each week. London Heathrow is a prestigious route for almost every airline that operates it, and India – London connectivity, especially from Delhi and Mumbai, generates good revenues. So, this becomes a flagship operation for Air India. 

The first rotation, AI161/162, was operated with VT-JRI and delivered to Air India in May 2024. The second rotation, AI111/112, was operated with VT-JRE, delivered to Air India in March 2024.

With the deployment of the A350-900 to London Heathrow, Air India has upgraded 90% of all its flights to London Heathrow. From April 2024, Air India started deploying its recently inducted Boeing 777-300ERs with elevated cabin interiors on all flights across its Mumbai-London Heathrow route to provide upgraded cabin interiors and inflight entertainment systems while bringing First class back on the London Heathrow-Mumbai route. This makes Air India the only carrier to offer the choice of First-class travel between the two cities and between the UK and India. 

The schedule of flights to be operated by the A350 between Delhi and London Heathrow, is as follows.

You can book your flights on AirIndia.com.

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 also feature the 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. 

Bottomline

Air India has launched the first international long-haul flights between Delhi and London Heathrow. The flights will be operated twice daily with its A350-900 aircraft. Book your tickets here—the flights to LHR with the A350-900.

Are you heading on one of the flights operated by Air India to London Heathrow?

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