Air India, India’s leading airline, has announced that its flagship A350-900 aircraft will be used to service flights from two American destinations, New York JFK and Newark to New Delhi.
As per the airline’s statement the New York to New Delhi A350 operations will commence from Nov.1, while the Newark to New Delhi will start from January 2, 2025.
The A350 deployment will introduce Air India’s Premium Economy class for the first time on the New York JFK-Delhi and Newark-Delhi routes, marking a significant enhancement in passenger experience on these crucial routes. The Premium Economy cabin will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, offering extra legroom and other enhancements.
In addition to Premium Economy, the A350 aircraft will have 28 private suites in Business class with full-flat beds in a 1-2-1 configuration, and 264 spacious Economy seats arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration. The A350 flights will also feature Air India’s new signature soft products and award-winning guest enhancements.
“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our A350s to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO and managing director of Air India. “This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement.”
“The new seats, new inflight entertainment systems, and new soft products will together provide our guests with great comfort and service that are representative of the new Air India. We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India's position as a leading carrier and attract travelers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” Wilson further added.
With the deployment of the A350, 60 percent of all Air India flights to the U.S. will feature new or upgraded cabin interiors. The airline has progressively replaced its legacy aircraft with newer ones on other U.S. routes, enhancing the flying experience with upgraded seats and in-flight entertainment systems.
Air India’s three-class configured Boeing 777-200LR operates non-stop flights between India (Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru) and San Francisco, except for a 3x weekly Delhi-San Francisco service. These aircraft feature upgraded cabin interiors, offering Premium Economy options to travelers.
Air India’s A350-900 will operate daily flights from New York JFK to Delhi starting November 1, 2024, departing at 12:30 PM and arriving at 11:40 AM (+1). From January 2, 2025, the A350 will also serve the Newark-Delhi route five times a week, with departures at 11:15 AM and arrivals at 11:30 AM (+1).
The Delhi-New York JFK flight (AI101) will depart at 2:20 AM and arrive at 7:35 AM daily, while the Delhi-Newark flight (AI105) will depart at 4:00 AM and arrive at 9:10 AM five times a week.
The A350 seats on the New York JFK-Delhi and Newark-Delhi routes are now available for reservation on Air India’s website, mobile app, or via travel agents. The new deployment is anticipated to significantly benefit the Indian diaspora in the U.S. by providing enhanced comfort and more direct travel options.
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login