Air India unveils first Airbus A350 aircraft, Set for commercial debut on January 22

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia officially inaugurated Air India's first Airbus A350 aircraft on Thursday, marking a significant addition to the airline's fleet. This makes Air India the country's first airline to incorporate the wide-body A350 from Airbus. The inaugural commercial service of the A350 is scheduled for January 22, 2024, operating domestically to and from Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai for crew familiarization before being deployed on international routes later this year.

The A350-900, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, promises optimal performance, environmental efficiency, and superior passenger comfort, accommodating 316 seats in a three-class configuration. Business class offers 28 private suites with direct aisle access, while the Premium Economy cabin features 24 wide seats. The introduction of new amenity kits, bed linens, chinaware, and glassware is anticipated on Air India's international flights starting mid-2024, primarily operated by widebody aircraft such as A350s, B777s, and B787s.