Air India launched its first-ever flight on the new Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a daily schedule to Dubai, a tribute to the long-standing partnership between the two countries. The emirate is also one of the most used sectors for the airline.
Starting May 1, Air India deployed the first of its A350-900 aircraft – purchased as part of the 470 aircraft deal with Airbus and Boeing – as AI995 (Delhi to Dubai) and AI996 (Dubai to Delhi).
AI995 departs at 2045 hours from New Delhi and arrives at 2245 in Dubai. AI996 leaves Dubai at 0015 hours and reaches Delhi and 0455 hours.
The flight was given off a ceremonial departure in Delhi. In Dubai, a lamp-lighting ceremony was held to welcome the flight in the presence of Satish Kumar Sivan, the Consul General of India, Dubai, and Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO, Dubai Airport and Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
While Emirates routinely flies its A380 aircrafts to Indian destinations, Air India will become the sole carrier to operate the A350 between India and Dubai.
The A350-900 has a three-class cabin configuration with 316 seats. This includes 28 private business suites, 24 premium economy seats, and 264 economy seats. Each seat features the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system. It has 2,200 hours of content and can be enjoyed on HD screens.
The aircraft has a range of 15,000 kilometers. The longest non-stop flight from Delhi at the moment is to San Francisco, which is 12,380 kilometers and slightly more than 18 hours long.
Air India operates 32 flights to Dubai from Delhi, and a total of 72 flights from five Indian cities.
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