Air India, India’s largest international carrier has commenced daily flights on the busy Delhi-Dubai route with its new Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
In a press statement, Air India says that with this, its flagship aircraft marked its international debut and Air India has become the only carrier to operate the A350 between India and Dubai, the most popular route for both destinations.
The statement adds that flight AI995 will take off daily from Delhi at 20:45 to land in Dubai at 22:45. On the return leg, flight AI996 will leave Dubai at 00:15 every day and reach Delhi 04:55.
The statement adds that Air India celebrated the occasion with pre-departure ceremonies and guests at both airports were presented with A350 memorabilia.
It says that present at Dubai airport were Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO, Dubai Airport and Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to light the ceremonial lamp inaugurating the aircraft’s first departure from Dubai.
Air India’s A350-900 aircraft features a three-class cabin configuration with 316 seats, including 28 private business class suites with full-flat beds, 24 premium economy seats with extra legroom and other amenities, and 264 Economy seats, with all seats featuring Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system.
Air India started inducting the A350s earlier this year as part of the 470 new aircraft order that Air India had placed a year ago.
The statement adds that Air India currently operates a total of 72 flights a week to Dubai from five Indian cities, of which 32 flights are from Delhi.