Dhaka: After receiving its first Airbus A350-900 in December 2023, Air India is preparing to launch flight operations in late January 2024. The maiden flight with brand-new Airbus A350-900 is scheduled to take off on January 22, 2024 from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Initially, the airline will connect high-demand regional routes from India’s largest cities, including Chennai International Airport, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.

Air India is planning to operate six weekly flights, with the exception of services between Delhi and Bengaluru, which are only scheduled for Tuesdays. The Delhi–Bengaluru route will begin on January 23, 2024. Bookings are now open for all new A350 flights on Air India’s website.

Air India celebrated the upcoming launch of operations with its first of 20 forthcoming A350s. The aircraft type’s network is set to expand later in 2024, with at least five more airframes expected during Q1 2024.

“Ushering in the most visible manifestation of Air India's epic transformation journey, the A350 aircraft will be later deployed for longer-haul flights to destinations across continents,” said the airline, as per reports.

As part of Air India’s modernisation efforts under Tata Group, the A350 boasts a fresh and updated cabin interior configured in a three-class layout, providing capacity for 316 passengers.

Air India’s A350 fleet will seat 264 passengers in economy class and 24 in premium economy, which offers enhanced features and more legroom. Business class comes equipped with 28 private suites featuring lie-flat bedding, a relatively luxurious feature not commonly featured outside of first-class products.

Other additions to Air India’s A350 cabin include Panasonic’s eX3 HD in-flight entertainment system (IFE) and a refreshed color pallet, reflecting the airline’s overhauled image.

As part of its rebranding efforts, Air India will gradually take on 470 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, mixing wide and narrowbody jets to support its international and regional operations. In December 2023, the airline made several changes to its Airbus order, focusing on A321neo and A350 operations, with its order split between the -900 and -1000 variants.