Flights that are 16 hours or longer duration, are considered ultra-long haul destinations like Delhi-New York which the A350 will now be flying to.
Making the announcement of operations of A350-900 on the Delhi-New York route, Air India said that Delhi-Newark flights will be operated by the widebody A350 from January 2 next year. Air India at present has six widebody A350-900 in its fleet of 140 planes.
“The A350 is not just another aircraft for Air India; it is a symbol of the ‘new Air India’ that is emerging through our 5-year Vihaan.AI post-privatisation transformation program. Guest feedback on the aircraft and new customer experience has been exceptionally positive since it was launched on the Delhi-London Heathrow route in September, so we are excited to now bring it to New York,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India. “The deployment of the A350 on the Delhi-New York route comes amid the private carrier curtailing temporarily its US operations by at least 60 flights as it does not have adequate aircraft in the fleet to entire schedule.
An Air India spokesperson had earlier told CNBC-TV18, which was first to report about the airline cancelling over 60 flights to Washington, Chicago, New York, Newark and San Francisco, “due to the delayed return of some aircraft from heavy maintenance and supply chain constraints resulting in a temporary reduction in operating fleet.”
Air India said that with the launch of A350 to the US, the airline is now the only Indian airline operating non-stop flights between India and USA with private suites in business class.
Besides, the airline has rolled out its new premium economy cabin on Delhi-New York (JFK) route, it said and added that it will soon roll-out on-board Wi-Fi facility.
