Air India announced today that it will deploy its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key North American routes. The new service will commence on the Delhi-New York route from November 1, 2024, followed by the Delhi-Newark route starting January 2, 2025.

This strategic move marks a significant upgrade in Air India’s passenger experience on these crucial international routes. The A350 deployment will introduce the airline’s Premium Economy class to these routes, offering 24 wide seats in a 2-4-2 configuration within a dedicated cabin featuring extra legroom and enhanced amenities.

The A350’s Business class will boast 28 private suites with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. The Economy class will accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. All seats across cabins will be equipped with the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, providing over 2,200 hours of content.

Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, expressed enthusiasm about the upgrade: “We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our A350s to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement.”

With this deployment, 60% of Air India’s flights to the US will feature new or upgraded cabin interiors. The airline currently operates 51 weekly flights to five US destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

This announcement comes as part of Air India’s ongoing transformation since its return to the Tata group in January 2022 after 69 years as a government-owned enterprise.

(Inputs from ANI)