Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia officially inaugurated private carrier Air India’s first Airbus A350 aircraft at the commencement of the aviation show Wings India 2024 here on Thursday. Air India is the first airline in the country to acquire this wide-body aircraft from Airbus in its fleet.

The airline’s first A350-900 arrived in India last month and is scheduled to begin commercial operations on domestic routes starting from January 22. Later, the aircraft will be deployed for long and ultra-long haul international flights.

“The A350 is a game-changer for Air India,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India. “This will not only enhance our passenger experience but will also open up new routes and opportunities for expansion. He said, along with a complete internal overhaul of our aging widebody aircraft starting in mid-2024, this upgrade of the fleet and product is a key pillar of bringing Air India back into the upper echelons of world aviation.

The airline said the arrival of the A350 coincides with a period of rapid growth and transformation for Air India as, under the leadership of the Tata Group, it is undergoing a comprehensive transformation aimed at renewing its fleet, expanding its global routes. To expand the network. , enhancing its service offerings, and regaining its position as a global aviation leader. Air India’s first A350, registered VT-JRA, is the first of 20 Airbus A350-900s on order from Air India, with five more scheduled for delivery by March 2024.

Air India’s order of 250 new aircraft with Airbus also includes 20 A350-1000 aircraft.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)