Home Flying High Air India’s flagship A350 makes ultra long-haul debut on Delhi-New York (JFK)...

Air India’s flagship A350 makes ultra long-haul debut on Delhi-New York (JFK) route

Air India A350-900
Air India A350-900

Air India has introduced its flagship A350-900 aircraft on daily, non-stop flights between Delhi and New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). This will be followed by a 5x weekly A350 service from Delhi to Newark’s Liberty International Airport (EWR) commencing January 2, 2025.

With these deployments, Air India introduces to travellers visiting the New York region its all-new interiors, including private suites in Business Class and a Premium Economy cabin, as well as an award-winning new Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, enhanced catering, and new serviceware.

The deployment of this flagship product, which also recently commenced on the Delhi-London Heathrow route, marks a significant milestone in the airline’s post-privatization transformation program.

Air India A350 Business Class 2
Air India A350 Business Class
Air India A350 Premium Economy
Air India A350 Premium Economy

Air India Premium Economy

The A350 deployment brings Air India’s Premium Economy experience for the first time on the Delhi-New York route, offering 24 extra-legroom seats in a 2-4-2 configuration in a dedicated, upscale cabin.

Private suites with sliding doors in Business Class

Air India’s A350 aircraft features a Business Class with 28 private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each accommodating a full lie-flat bed.  Each suite offers direct aisle access, sliding privacy doors, and a personal wardrobe. Air India, thus, becomes the only non-stop carrier between India and the United States to offer private suites with sliding doors in Business Class.

On-board Wi-Fi coming soon

Air India is preparing to launch its new inflight connectivity service on international flights operated by the A350. The service is expected to be launched in the coming weeks, enabling guests to use Wi-Fi on their own devices and stay connected.

The all-new Air India experience

The A350 flights offer travellers an elevated on-board experience, featuring enhanced meal menus, new serviceware, new bedding, and updated amenity kits for Business and Premium Economy guests, exclusively designed by Ferragamo and TUMI, respectively.

The seats across all cabins on the A350 come with the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 IFE system and HD screens that offer more than 3,000 hours of entertainment content from around the world in 13 international and 8 Indian regional languages.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India, said, “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. We are also looking forward to commencing the full interior refit of existing aircraft in 2025 which, together with the hundreds of new aircraft on order, will take Air India to new heights.”