Air India has unveiled its flagship A350-900 aircraft on the daily non-stop route between Delhi and New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), introducing premium features such as private suites in Business Class and a brand-new Premium Economy cabin. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Air India’s five-year Vihaan.AI transformation program post-privatisation, with further plans to deploy the A350 on the Delhi-Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) route beginning January 2, 2025.
Air India’s A350 is now the only non-stop service between India and the United States to offer private suites in Business Class, featuring 28 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each suite provides full lie-flat beds, sliding privacy doors, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes for added luxury and convenience.
The new A350 Premium Economy cabin, debuting on the Delhi-New York route, offers travellers a more comfortable journey with 24 spacious seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration. This dedicated cabin aims to provide a premium experience at a more accessible price, catering to passengers seeking extra legroom and enhanced in-flight amenities.
The A350’s seats across all cabins come with the latest Panasonic eX3 inflight entertainment system, offering high-definition screens and over 3,000 hours of content in 13 international and 8 Indian regional languages. Business and Premium Economy guests will also enjoy exclusive amenity kits designed by Ferragamo and TUMI, while enhanced meal menus and new serviceware elevate the onboard dining experience.
Air India began inducting the A350s earlier this year, initially deploying them on domestic and short-haul international routes. The A350-900 now replaces the Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on 14 of the 17 weekly flights between Delhi and London Heathrow, adding an additional 336 seats per week on this key route.
Onboard Wi-Fi coming soon
In response to the growing demand for connectivity, Air India will soon launch its new Wi-Fi service on international A350 flights. Expected in the coming weeks, this service will allow passengers to stay connected on their own devices throughout their journey.Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, commented on the A350’s introduction: “The A350 represents more than just another aircraft; it’s a symbol of the ‘new Air India’ emerging through our Vihaan.AI transformation program. Feedback on the aircraft since its introduction on the Delhi-London route has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are thrilled to extend this elevated experience to our New York passengers. Looking ahead, we are excited to start refitting the interiors of our existing fleet in 2025, which, combined with our order for hundreds of new aircraft, will take Air India to new heights.”
