AI is scheduled to get 5-6 A350s by next March. There is a small delay in the first version because the seat manufacturer required some additional testing for some seats. This calendar year, AI will receive one or two A350s.
The aircraft, a first for Indian airlines, will initially be deployed on domestic routes for a few months to allow the AI crew to gain the required experience on the type under the guidance of experienced aircraft A350 Pilots. The aircraft will then fly to nearby international destinations before deploying to long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes in North America.
This is something airlines worldwide do when introducing a new type of aircraft. For example, Singapore Airlines was operating the A380 double-decker between Changi and Kuala Lumpur when the first airline received the aircraft.
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AI is now the first scheduled airline to purchase an aircraft – also a wide-body aircraft airbus A350 – from a company registered in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). This A350-900 is also the first widebody aircraft to be leased through India’s first International Financial Services Center (IFSC) under a finance lease transaction with HSBC.
The transaction was facilitated by AI Fleet Services Limited (AIFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India and a GIFT IFSC registered financial company. It is also AI’s first financing transaction from its mega order for 470 aircraft valued at $70 billion. Traditionally, Indian airlines have leased aircraft from foreign shores such as Ireland. The Modi government is keen to bring leasing business to India as desi airlines – Tata Group AI and IndiGo – are now among the largest customers for aircraft in the world.
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