From Toulouse to Delhi: Air India Receives First Airbus A350-900

In the last few moments, the first Airbus A350-900 for Air India has landed in Delhi from Toulouse, and is the first of many units of the type for the carrier.

This represents a new era in the carrier’s transformation program, which is set to produce significant growth and fleet renewal in the years ahead.

Without further ado, let’s get into it…

From Toulouse to Delhi: Air India Receives First Airbus A350-900…

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Air India flight AI350, with the flight number being aptly named after the Airbus A350, departed Toulouse at 0130 local time.

At the time of writing (23/12/23 @ 0800 UK time), VT-JRA was on descent into Delhi, the aircraft’s new home for commercial operations, with the jet landing at 0815 UK time this morning.

Of the Airbus A350 variant, the carrier has 20 -900s and 20 -1000s, as part of it’s blockbuster order made earlier this year, which has been recently adjusted, which is as follows:

70 A320neos.
140 A321neos.
20 A350-1000s.
20 A350-900s.
190 Boeing 737 MAXs.
20 787-9 Dreamliners.
10 777Xs.

On top of the firm orders for 470 aircraft, this includes purchase rights for an additional 370 jets, meaning if all are exercised, Delhi-based Air India could take a grand total of 840 aircraft from both Boeing & Toulouse-based Airbus.

This order from Air India means that they get added to the list of many new aircraft projects that are in the pipeline or are already in production.

Within its 210 Airbus A320 Family order, the Indian carrier will be receiving A321XLR aircraft, which will enable a more economical way of a long-haul flight to secondary markets.

The carrier also becomes another customer of the Toulouse-based A350 program, which will enable long-distance flights, as will the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners it has on order, which will expand its relationship with the program following deliveries of the -8 variant over the years.

But for now, today marks a major milestone in the growth and transformation program at Delhi-based Air India, and all eyes will be on how this goes in the years ahead.