Air India's flagship A350 now flies on Delhi-NY route

The Tata Group-owned Air India has launched its flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the daily, non-stop route between Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

This deployment marks the airline's latest step in elevating the passenger experience on its U.S. routes following the carrier's privatization.

In addition to the Delhi-JFK route, Air India plans to expand its A350 service to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), with five weekly flights slated to begin on January 2, 2025.

The inaugural flight, designated as AI101, departed Delhi at 2:49 AM IST aboard an A350-900, registered under the tail number VT-JRI. It is scheduled to touch down at New York's JFK at 7:40 AM EDT.

This introduction of the A350 to the New York route follows the recent deployment of the same aircraft model on the Delhi-London route, as part of Air India's comprehensive transformation strategy.

The A350 introduces a suite of upgrades aimed at enriching the in-flight experience for passengers travelling to New York.

The aircraft features redesigned interiors and includes private suites in Business Class, a dedicated Premium Economy cabin, an advanced Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, improved catering, and newly designed serviceware.