Air India’s new flagship aircraft will make its hotly anticipated U.S. debut later this year.
The New Delhi-based carrier announced Monday that it will deploy its new Airbus A350-900 on daily flights from Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) beginning Nov. 1. Then, beginning Jan. 2, 2025, Air India will deploy the A350 from DEL to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on a five-times-weekly basis.
Air India’s Airbus A350 is not only a new, modern and more fuel-efficient aircraft, but it also features a much upgraded passenger experience from nose to tail.
Booking tips: These are the best times to buy an international flight
AIR INDIA
It starts in business class, where travelers will enjoy direct aisle access from private suites arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each pod features a sliding door, a 21-inch high-definition touchscreen TV, multiple storage compartments, power outlets and more. Each seat converts into a fully flat bed at the push of a button.
The A350 also features a premium economy cabin, which will be deployed on the flights from New Delhi to New York for the first time. This premium economy cabin is arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration with spacious recliners for each traveler. These seats offer 38 inches of pitch and are 18.5 inches wide with 8 inches of recline.
AIR INDIA
In many ways, these premium economy seats resemble domestic first-class recliners. They also offer winged headrests, a leg rest and large 13.3-inch high-definition touchscreen TVs.
AIR INDIA
Not only will business-class and premium economy travelers enjoy upgraded seats, but they’ll also receive enhanced amenities once onboard from Ferragamo and Tumi. Air India recently updated its amenity kits from top-tier international brands and debuted new chinaware, glassware and bedding for premium travelers.
AIR INDIA
Finally, the economy cabin on Air India’s A350 features 264 seats in an industry-standard 3-3-3 configuration. Each 17.5-inch-wide seat has 31 inches of pitch and 6 inches of recline. Every economy passenger also enjoys a 12-inch high-definition touchscreen TV with hundreds of hours of on-demand entertainment options.
Since the beginning of the year, Air India has taken delivery of six Airbus A350s. These jets were originally intended for Aeroflot, but international sanctions forbade the Russian airline from taking delivery of these aircraft.
Instead of simply letting these A350s sit in the desert, Air India opportunistically picked them up. Though these planes feature the aforementioned cabin upgrades, the remainder of Air India’s A350 fleet will feature a different but still much-improved product.
Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
To date, Air India has deployed the A350 on domestic routes in India and flights from New Delhi to Dubai. While this is a treat for short-haul travelers, the A350 is designed for ultra-long-haul flying.
AIR INDIA
Beginning Sept. 1, Air India will start flying the A350 from DEL to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR). And in the coming years, the airline is expected to debut many more A350 destinations. After all, the airline has 34 more Airbus A350s on order with Airbus, 20 of which are for the larger A350-1000 variant.
Air India is undergoing a massive transformation following the privatization of the airline. Perhaps the biggest news is that the airline has ordered a whopping 470 new jets to modernize the fleet. We’re starting to get a glimpse of the future Air India, and it’s looking much brighter than this 2020 TPG review of the airline’s business class.
Related reading:
When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
The best credit cards to reach elite status
What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations