"Game-Changer" In Civil Aviation: Scindia Inaugurates India's First Airbus A350 Aircraft As Air India Expects Expansion

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated India's and Air India's first Airbus A350-900 aircraft on Thursday (18 January).

"The aviation landscape in India is on an upward trajectory, marking milestones like never before!", said Scindia while unveiling the long-haul, wide-body Airbus A350 of Air India at Wings India 2024.

"This state-of-art aircraft will elevate travel experience of passengers, enable fuel efficiency and provide a significant uplift to Indian Aviation in both domestic and international sectors," Scindia added.

The latest addition to Air India's fleet signifies India's growing stature as a major player in the global aviation industry, according to The Economic Times.

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Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, Cambell Wilson called it a "game-changer" that will "open up new routes and opportunities for expansion."

"Together with the full interior refit of our legacy widebody aircraft beginning mid-2024, this upgradation of fleet and product is a key pillar of returning Air India to the upper echelons of world aviation," he added.

The A350-900 aircraft comes in a three-class cabin configuration with 316 seats designed by Collins Aerospace and includes 28 private business class suites with full-flat beds, 24 premium economy seats with extra legroom and 264 spacious economy class seats.

Adding another milestone to India's aviation sector, Akasa Air announced earlier today that it has ordered 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft which makes it the first Indian airline in the history of civil aviation to reach a firm order book of more than 200 aircraft within 17 months of operations

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