Air India international passengers will soon get the much-awaited cabin product as the back-in-Tata- fold airline will induct six wide-body A350 aircraft into its fleet this year.
At $70 billion, AI for the first time confirmed the list price of its record order for 470 aircraft that are a mix of Airbus and Boeing wide and narrow bodies. Five ex-Delta Boeing 777s have already begun flying on North America routes.
The first of the 40 legacy wide-body aircraft that are being refurbished will join the fleet in mid-2024.
The Tatas placed a record firm order for 470 aircraft along with an option for 370 more.
Since 2022, over 20 planes that had been grounded for years are back in the air and capacity has increased by 78%.
The group is hiring 500 cabin crew every month and have a strong pipeline of personnel. A training academy is in the works that will train personnel not just for AI but other airlines, too. AI will also hire expat crew members to expedite growth.
Six twin aisle A350s were ready for Aeroflot but after the war on Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, Airbus can’t deliver them to the airline. These planes will now come to Air India this year in the configuration as Aeroflot had ordered them — 28 business, 24 comfort (premium economy) and 264 economy seats. Due to supply chain issues, AI will not be changing this layout of passenger accommodations (LOPA) as that would delay their induction.
And cabin refurbishment of the existing wide-body aircraft will be completed as per part of the $400 million programme by next year.
Also Read: SC Junks Plea To Rename Places
