Air India To Utilize New Airbus A350-900s On JFK, Newark Routes

Air India plans to deploy the Airbus A350-900 aircraft on flights from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to two New York-area airports, with the airline describing the aircraft type as its “flagship.”

Air India has taken delivery of its first six A350-900 aircraft in 2024. The carrier has used those aircraft on domestic routes in India and for flights between DEL and Dubai “for regulatory compliance as well as crew familiarization purposes,” the airline said in a statement. Air India has previously announced it will start using the A350-900 on 14 of the 17 weekly flights it operates between DEL and London Heathrow Airport starting Sept. 1.

From Nov. 1, the airline will use the A350-900 on daily flights between DEL and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). From Jan 2, 2025, the carrier will utilize the A350-900 on 5X-weekly flights between DEL and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Air India is currently operating Boeing 777s on flights from DEL to JFK and EWR.

The airline noted it still has 34 more A350s on order, which includes 20 A350-1000s.

“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,” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said. “This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement.”

The carrier has configured the A350-900 into three cabins with a total of 316 seats, including 28 in business class, 24 in premium economy and 264 in economy.

In addition to EWR and JFK, Air India flies to U.S. points Chicago O’Hare, San Francisco and Washington Dulles. The airline operates a total of 51X-weekly flights between India and the U.S.

Air India will continue to use a 777-300ER on all flights from Mumbai to JFK and Newark.