<p>The A350, the first wide-body aircraft operated by Air India, touched down at Delhi Airport on Saturday wearing a new livery.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-321375″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-delhi-is-the-destination-of-air-indias-first-wide-body-airbus-a350-900-aircraft-ai.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com delhi is the destination of air indias first wide body airbus a350 900 aircraft ai” width=”1076″ height=”606″ title=”Delhi is the destination of Air India's first wide-body Airbus A350-900 aircraft 6″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-delhi-is-the-destination-of-air-indias-first-wide-body-airbus-a350-900-aircraft-ai.jpg 600w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-delhi-is-the-destination-of-air-indias-first-wide-body-airbus-a350-900-aircraft-ai-390×220.jpg 390w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-delhi-is-the-destination-of-air-indias-first-wide-body-airbus-a350-900-aircraft-ai-150×85.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1076px” /></p>
<p>With plans to include six A350s, Air India will be the first Indian airline to operate this kind of aircraft.</p>
<p>However, before the aircraft is approved to transport passengers, a number of post-arrival regulatory procedures must be completed, such as customs clearance, different DGCA inspections on equipment, and a series of ground tests and proving flights.</p>
<p>“We will be operating short sectors for a few months so that we can familiarize our pilots with the new aircraft under the tutelage of experienced instructors, and to build a pool sufficient to support long-haul A350 operations later in the year,” stated Air India managing director and chief executive Campbell Wilson in a message to the staff on Friday.</p>
<p>Wilson said that the remaining six A350s will be added to the fleet by the middle of 2024.</p>
<p>The CEO said that Air India Express employees and the airline’s ground crew will be wearing new uniforms. The airline has changed the cabin and cockpit crew’s outfits.</p>
<p>Air India, now owned by Tata, has announced plans for significant growth, which include the integration of forty Airbus A350 aircraft in the next years. The airline has confirmed reservations for 220 more Boeing flights and 250 Airbus planes.</p>
<p>This calculated action supports Air India’s objective of turning things around while owned by Tata. In order to ensure the seamless operation and maintenance of all six A350 aircraft that will be incorporated into the fleet, the carrier obtained purchase agreements for these aircraft during the June Paris Air Show. Additionally, regulatory approval for the engineering line maintenance of A350 aircraft has already been obtained.</p>
