Air India has begun long-haul flights with its new Airbus A350-900s, as the first service between Delhi and London-Heathrow was completed. The A350s will be operating twice daily on this route replacing the Boeing 777-300ERs.
The first service was flight AI 161 operated by an Airbus A350-900 registered as VT-JRI, which took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 03:16 local time and landed at London-Heathrow Airport at 07:22, after eight hours and 35 minutes.
The A350-900 is being used in strategic markets in India, and in short-haul international destinations such as Dubai, and by the last quarter of this year, they will be introduced to North America with services to New York-JFK and Newark.
A350 Flight Schedule between Delhi (DEL) and London Heathrow (LHR)
- Flight AI 161: DEL 02:45 – LHR 07:30 daily flights.
- Flight AI 111: DEL 06:45 – LHR 11:30 daily flights.
- Flight AI 162: LHR 09:45 – DEL 22:50 daily flights.
- Flight AI 112: LHR 13:15 – DEL 02:05+1 daily flights.
Air India’s A350-900s can accommodate 316 passengers in three classes: 28 Business Class, 24 Premium Economy and 264 Economy.
Over the next few years, Air India expects to receive 14 A350-900s, 20 A350-1000s, 10 777-9s and 27 787-9s, of which 7 are transferred from Vistara.
