On Friday, Campbell Wilson, the chief of Air India, announced that the national carrier's inaugural wide-body Airbus A350-900 aircraft will be arriving in the capital city on Saturday. Initially, the aircraft will be utilized for short-haul routes.
Air India is set to become the inaugural Indian airline to introduce six A350 planes in the initial stage. The CEO and MD of Air India also announced that new uniforms will be introduced for the airline's ground staff and Air India Express staff soon.
Domestic flights to begin from the end of January
“The aircraft will be put into commercial domestic flight operations for metro-to-metro connectivity by the end of January as it will take at least 3-4 weeks since its arrival in India to complete extensive checks and approvals," an Air India official said. Air India received regulatory approvals for the engineering line maintenance of the A350 aircraft from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation earlier this month.
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According to Airbus, the A350-900 is capable of providing a non-stop flight time of 16-17 hours and has a maximum range of up to 20 hours. Air India anticipates that this aircraft will give them a competitive advantage in the long-haul market from India. In February, Air India made a significant purchase from Boeing and Airbus, acquiring a total of 70 wide-body and 400 narrow-body aircraft. This extensive order consists of 40 Airbus A350s (20 A350-1000s and 20 A350-900s), 20 Boeing B787s, and 10 Boeing B777-9s for wide-body operations. The order includes 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing B737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. Notably, the Airbus A350-900 stands out among wide-body aircraft as it burns 25% less fuel than its older counterparts.
Designed in India
Airbus is collaborating closely with Air India to guarantee a seamless integration of the A350s into service. This involves comprehensive training for pilots and maintenance personnel, as well as acquiring all essential certifications. Emphasizing the incorporation of Indian components and parts in the A350s, an Airbus representative mentioned that "the A350 will feature crucial parts and cutting-edge technologies that are designed, manufactured, and maintained in India."
While numerous components and parts will be sourced from Indian companies, the supply of advanced technologies will be facilitated by Airbus India Engineering Centre, located in Bengaluru.
(With Input from the agencies)
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