Touring Air India's Brand New Airbus A350-900 at Farnborough Airshow 2024: a New Era Begins for the Airline

Air India's Airbus A350-900 registered VT-JRH proudly standing on static display at the Farnborough Airshow 2024: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

During the Farnborough Airshow 2024, Air India proudly showcased its Airbus A350-900 in the new livery, as the carrier aims to become a major player in the global aviation scene. The aircraft, registered VT-JRH, was the first one built for the airline, and was on static display for the three days at the airshow, having arrived as a ferry flight on the 21st of July from Delhi to Farnborough, via a short stop at London Gatwick [piloted by airline veteran Captain Sameer Bagai.].

I had the honor and pleasure to be invited to tour the aircraft twice during the airshow, and met the crew, including the senior pilots and the cabin crew, as well as the senior leadership team from Air India and the Tata Group, including the CEO Campbell Wilson. The Farnborough Airshow happens every two years and is typically a platform for plane makers to rack up multibillion-dollar deals [here is my review of the 2022 show!].

The aircraft, along with another, has so far been deployed on mostly domestic routes for crew familiarization, and did operate a passenger flight to Dubai recently as well. Both these planes have been flown by Air India or Airbus examiners on short rides between Mumbai—Bangalore—Hyderabad, and Chennai to gain landing cycles and release pilots after their check rides so that Air India has an approved pool of pilots to take these planes abroad. Aside from Captain Bagai, the other senior Air India pilots on this visit were Captain Prateek Dhiman and Captain Aditya Chopra. The crew members flew the aircraft back to London Gatwick on July 24, and then as the first scheduled flight from Gatwick to New Delhi as AI148.

The view passengers may see if they board via the stairs. The A350 wing incorporates various design elements, including slats, flaps, ailerons, spoilers, and serves as the attachment points for the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The development of the A350 wing involved over 4000 hours of wind tunnel testing, resulting in one of the most efficient wing designs to date. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson [center] standing with the airline's cabin crew, whom are all wearing the brand new uniform, designed by Manish Malhotra. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Cabin Crew in brand new uniforms on the Air India A350-900 at Farnborough: Copyright Navjot Singh

I must admit that I have not had the fortune to travel on Air India [ever!], and the last time I went to India was in 1998, so may opinion of Air India and this aircraft is based on my experience of this aircraft alone. Therefore, I am in no position to comment whether any transformation is or is not happening.

However, what I can say is that in relation to other airlines and other passenger aircraft [not just at Farnborough, that I have experienced travelling in], this aircraft has a very modern, clean, and sleek and stylish feel to it. This is not just because it is a relatively new aircraft, but one can see that there has been an effort by the airline to really bring about the best of Indian hospitality and a truly five-star experience for passengers!

As a passenger and visitor, you can feel that there is hardly any difference in the cabin's ambiance, seating, and in-flight experience compared to some of the world's best airlines in the Middle East or the Far East. 

​Within the space and density envelope of the long-haul cabin, this is both a marked improvement over the previous generation and stands Air India at the forefront of its full-service carrier competition.

Air India has made excellent choices in the seat CMF (color, materials and finish) and in the wider cabin: yes, it’s essentially a modern A350-900 but this is one of the best-looking of its ilk.

Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson [pictured] said at the Farnborough Airshow that the privatisation of the flag carrier means the country’s airlines are better positioned to take advantage of the huge growth potential in India. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Air India's Airbus A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport for the 2024 airshow: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

​Since its takeover by Tata Group in 2022, Air India has taken huge steps to become a major player on the global aviation scene. Tata also jointly owns Vistara Airlines along with Singapore Airlines. Additionally, the group is merging low-cost carrier subsidiaries Air India Express and the former AirAsia India business.

Air India placed a huge order for 470 aircraft with Airbus and Boeing in 2023. The firm order included 70 widebodies, comprising 34 Airbus A350-1000s and six A350-900s, and 20 Boeing 787s and 10 777Xs.

​On top of this the airline is striving to become a leader not just in providing a truly five-star customer experience, from booking a flight to collecting your baggage, but is also looking to push the boundaries of world class safety in aviation. This is going to be a huge challenge, especially as India’s Tata Group, which owns Air India, has ambitious plans to merge Air India and Vistara Airlines as part of efforts to streamline operations and provide a consistent customer experience. 

During a roundtable discussion at Farnborough, Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson described the integration of four airlines into two as [I quote]: “probably unprecedented” in the aviation industry, with plans to finalize both transactions by the end of 2024. “There are the competition and legal clearances, then we have to merge all the operating practices, procedures and manuals, and train all the staff. It's a very long and convoluted process, but we’re hoping that by the end of this calendar year we’ll be able to complete both mergers.” Said Wilson.

Special gifts for the media provided by Air India at the Farnborough Airshow 2024, with the new and the old branding: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

The Cockpit

Below are some exclusive shots of the cockpit. Also, which you can click here to view a short video.

As more and more of Air India’s crews become familiar with the Airbus A350-900, the airline has announced that this aircraft will be deployed on its services to London from Delhi starting on the 1st of September 2024, and will include not only the airline’s newest widebody aircraft but also upgraded interior cabins. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

The A350's cockpit is equipped with two Onboard Information System (OIS) displays, that display applications from laptops devices. Like the A220-300 and the Boeing 787, the A350-900 has a Head up Display [HUD], which makes it easier for pilots to operate the aircraft in a dynamic environment, particularly during take-off and landing. The HUD is a pull-down screen that is positioned in front of the pilots’ eyes, so they can see ahead through the window but also see all the instrument readings. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Spacious and perfect view as seen from the jump seat on the Air India A350-900: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Business Class Cabin

The A350 has 28 seats in Business Class via a 1-2-1 configuration. These are Collins Aerospace Horizon seats with 79 inch width and 48 inch pitch, which are convertible to a fully-flat bed. The Collins Aerospace Horizon seats debuted on the Aeroflot version of the aircraft and have been inherited by Turkish Airlines and Air India. Click here to read more about the seat configuration.

The Business Class cabin of Air India's Airbus A350-900: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Very comfortable Business Class seat on Air India's Airbus A350-900: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Air India is improving its onboard experience with new amenity kits, bedding, and table settings on international flights. Along with a full-flat bed, the amenity kits include Ferragamo products for First and Business class. Passengers in First and Business class will also enjoy sustainable sleepwear, plush slippers, unique bed linen, and exclusive tableware that reflects Indian culture. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Air India provides an exquisite collection of chinaware that blends lightweight and durable materials with subtle brand elements like intricate Mandala patterns and India-inspired designs. First and Business class guests will receive exclusive, copper-gold plates for Indian meals, and premium passengers will also enjoy lead-free glassware from Slovakia. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Ferragamo kits for First and Business Class passengers: The popular Italian luxury fashion house has designed amenity kits exclusively for Air India. This includes a bespoke presentation bag with unique motifs, containing Ferragamo body lotion, hand cream, lip balm, comfortable socks, and a plush eye mask. Additionally, the First Class kit will also have an Eau de Parfum. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Premium Economy and Economy Class 

24 seats in Premium Economy in a 2-4-2 configuration, each with a 38 inch pitch seat, and 264 seats in Economy via a 3-3-3 configuration. Collins Aspire Seats with 31 inch pitch. Click here to read more about the seat configuration.

The aircraft

Proudly wearing the India titles: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Some fun facts about the A350-900, according to Airbus are: It's quiet, it's quick, and it has a low cabin altitude.

The Airbus A350 is noticeably quieter than other aircraft in the cruise, and I have noticed that it is probably on the same par of quietness as the A380 [you can seriously hear passengers talking on the other side of the aisle!]. The Airbus A350 travels a lot faster than most of the widebody planes flying at the moment. It’s faster than both the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A330 [!] but is slower than the Boeing 747, which sadly is a dying breed. 

Because the fuselage is made from a carbon-fibre composite plastic rather than aluminium, the cabin can be pressurised more. Essentially that means that the cabin altitude is lower. On an Airbus A350, you can be flying at 35,000 to 40,000 feet, but the cabin will be at around 5,500 feet. (On a conventional aluminium aircraft, the cabin will be around 7,500-8,000 feet.). This helps with the effects of jet lag and how you feel after a flight, too. So these three things – quietness, quickness, and the low cabin altitude – all combine to make passengers feel better in the cabin and after the flight!

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The mask of Zorro?! Every Airbus A350 comes with the distinct black masking around the pilot’s window. Here is what Airbus have officially said about the mask: “The A350 XWB is the first ever Airbus aircraft with curved cockpit glasses. These cockpit windows offer more than just the most futuristic, aesthetic and distinctive look. The new windshield enhances the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft,” said Donna Lloyd, Head of Communication Business Partners at Airbus. “The perfectly curved shape of the nose helps the air flow hug the surface, in the least turbulent manner, thereby reducing drag. The emblematic “Ray-Ban” like black windshield eases the window’s maintenance and contributes to harmonising the thermal condition of this temperature-sensitive window area. The slightly concave nose area (seen from the side) offers the pilots an optimal view of the immediate surroundings easing ground operations and making them safer.”

The A350 is powered by two Trent XWB turbofan engines that result from a very close collaboration between Airbus and the powerplant's manufacturer, Rolls-Royce. The front fan of the Trent XWB is nearly 10 ft. across – making its diameter larger than the fuselage of Concorde - so, to say they are huge is an understatement! Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

The A350 has undergone advancements in its wingtip design, with updated wingtips introduced in 2017 that improve fuel efficiency and range. These are with large curved winglets that extend the wingspan and reduce drag. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Air India A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport during the 2024 airshow: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Air India A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport during the 2024 airshow. The Airbus A350 burns 25 per cent less fuel than most previous generation aircraft, so it generates less carbon dioxide. It is quieter too, so it’s better for the environment in a number of ways: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Air India A350-900 parked at Farnborough Airport during the 2024 airshow. The A350 has cameras on the tail and under the aircraft, which is a feature I know passengers will enjoy and can be accessed via the Air India Inflight Entertainment System. It looks good from the cabin, but it’s also helpful for pilots as it can identify obstacles as they're moving around.: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

In Summary

The airline has definitely projected a very strong, fresh and positive image at the Farnborough Air Show 2024 with their Airbus A350-900. This is a new era for the Maharajah, and hopefully the passengers can truly enjoy the former motto of "Your Palace in the Sky" when flying with Air India. JRD Tata, former chairman of the Tata Group and the founder of Tata Airlines, which went on to become Air India was determined to make it the best airline in the world. To him, Air India wasn’t just an airline, but a symbol and proud carrier of India’s image across the world, and I believe and can feel that the Tata Group are doing everything they can to keep his legacy and vision alive. The future is exciting for Air India.