Air India’s first A350 enters service, carries the airline’s hope of restoring glory

With this aircraft, Air India hopes to enter a new era defined by world-class products and superior passenger experience. The A350 entering service on international routes will also kick start the process of a $400-million full interior refit of the carrier’s legacy wide-body fleet, much of which is in a desperate need of a refresh.

Business class on the aircraft features 28 private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each with direct aisle access and sliding privacy doors. (Express photo)

The airline’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson calls the A350 a “game-changer” for Air India. “It will not only elevate our passenger experience but also open up new routes and opportunities for expansion,” Wilson said, adding that fleet and product upgradation is a “key pillar” in Air India’s action plan to become an airline of global repute.

Over the past few years, cash-rich Gulf-based carriers offering superior services on board modern aircraft have emerged as airlines of choice for a large number of passengers looking for comfortable long and ultra-long-haul travel from and to India. With Air India being the only Indian carrier truly offering such trans-continental flights, the carrier in its new avatar is looking to attract passengers away from the Gulf airlines. The airline’s network expansion and fleet modernisation programme, at least in part, is directed at taking the competition to Middle Eastern giants like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways.

The premium economy cabin has 24 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration with 38 inches of seat pitch, 18.5 inches of seat width, and 8-inch recline. (Express photo)

Air India’s new A350 aircraft is among the six that were originally meant for Russian flag carrier Aeroflot, but were offered to the Indian carrier due to the West’s sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Five more of such A350-900 aircraft will join the Air India fleet by March. In all, 20 each of the A350-900 and the bigger A350-1000 are part of Air India’s 250-plane order to European aerospace major Airbus. The order is part of the larger 470-aircraft placed by Air India last year, with the order for the other 220 aircraft going to American plane maker Boeing.

According to Airbus, in a standard three-class configuration, the A350-900 can carry 300-350 passengers and has a flight range of over 15,000 km. The A350-1000 can carry 350-410 passengers, and can cover a little over 16,000 km non-stop.

“The A350 offers wider cabins, larger windows, mood lighting, and advanced entertainment systems, and comes with world-class cabin products, setting a new benchmark for passenger experience on Indian airlines. Air India’s A350-900 comes with 316 seats in a three-class cabin configuration (business, premium economy, and economy),” Air India said.

Economy class fliers on ultra-long-haul flights will also be provided with amenity kits. (Express photo)

Business class on the aircraft features 28 private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each with direct aisle access and sliding privacy doors. These seats convert to full-sized beds, and each is accompanied with a personal wardrobe, and stowage space for electronic devices, amenities, and shoes. The business class suites are also equipped with 21-inch high-definition (HD) touchscreens and video handsets. Business class seats also come with amenity kits by Italian luxury fashion house Ferragamo.

The premium economy cabin has 24 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration with 38 inches of seat pitch, 18.5 inches of seat width, and 8-inch recline. Each premium economy seat has a four-way adjustable headrest and leg rest, and comes with a 13.3-inch HD touchscreen. Those flying premium economy will get amenity kits by US-based travel brand Tumi. The plane’s economy cabin has 264 seats in a 3-4-3 configuration, each with 31 inches of seat pitch, 17.5 inches of seat width, and 6 inches of recline, 4-way adjustable headrest, and a 12-inch HD touchscreen. Economy class fliers on ultra-long-haul flights will also be provided with amenity kits.

The airline has also introduced new bed linen, blankets, chinaware, and glassware and cutlery, all inspired by the carrier’s new brand identity that was unveiled in August 2023. The A350 is the first aircraft to sport Air India’s new livery and brand identity. All new amenity kits, refreshed bed linens, and the new chinaware and glassware will be seen from mid-2024 on board Air India’s international flights operated by its wide-body fleet comprising A350, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The rollout will begin when the A350 starts operating international commercial flights.

Air India is also introducing a new in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, featuring over 2,200 hours of content, including 1,000 hours of movies, 600 hours of television shows, and 600 hours of audio. The new IFE system will be available on the A350s, recently inducted Boeing 777-200LR planes, and on the incoming wide-body aircraft. The carrier’s legacy wide-body fleet will subsequently feature the new IFE system as part of interior refit programme.

The writer was in Hyderabad on Air India’s invitation for the inauguration of its first Airbus A350 aircraft.