Air India operates its inaugural ferry flight of A350-900 aircraft
Tata-owned Air India has operated its first ferry flight of A350-900 aircraft, featuring the company's new livery, from Singapore to Toulouse. "Another step closer to the arrival of India's most-awaited aircraft. Our Airbus A350-900 takes off on its first ferry flight from Singapore to Toulouse in the new Air India colours", Air India wrote on X.
The officials said that the aircraft livery was painted in Singapore. The plane is now en route to Toulouse for the remaining work before its scheduled delivery in December of this year. In September, Air India acquired India’s first Airbus A350-900 aircraft through a finance lease transaction with HSBC.
Air India has made history by becoming the first scheduled carrier to acquire an aircraft from an entity registered in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), according to airline officials. Additionally, the airline's first A350-900 is the first widebody aircraft to have been leased through India's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Air India is expected to receive the first of six Airbus A350-900s by the end of this year, with the remaining aircraft scheduled for delivery through March 2024.
Air India has placed orders for a total of 470 new aircraft, which include 6 Airbus A350-900, 34 Airbus A350-1000, 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and 10 Boeing 777X wide-body planes. Additionally, the airline has ordered 140 Airbus A320neo, 70 Airbus A321neo, and 190 Boeing 737MAX narrow-body aircraft. These orders were made during the Paris Air Show held in June this year, and purchase agreements were signed with Airbus and Boeing.
