Air India, India’s flag carrier, has announced a significant upgrade to its Delhi-Heathrow route. Starting from 1 September 2024, the airline will roster its flagship A350-900 aircraft onto flights to Heathrow, marking the first long-haul international destination for the airline’s A350-900.

A New Era of Luxury Travel

Currently, the Delhi-Heathrow route is served by a mixture of Boeing 777-300ER and 787-8 aircraft. However, the introduction of the A350-900 will see a total of 14 out of 17 weekly flights operated by this state-of-the-art aircraft. This move will also see Air India offer a premium economy cabin on its Delhi-Heathrow route for the first time, with 24 seats configured in a 2-4-2 layout.

Increased Capacity and Upgraded Interiors

The switch to the A350-900 will increase the weekly capacity on the route by 336 seats. Once the A350-900 has been deployed to Heathrow, 90 per cent of Air India’s flights to the airport will offer new or upgraded interiors. This follows the introduction of refurbished Boeing 777-300ERs on the Mumbai-Heathrow route in April, including a first-class cabin.

The A350-900: A Game Changer for Air India

Air India has now taken delivery of six A350s, each configured with 28 suites in business class, 24 seats in premium economy, and 264 in economy. The Airbus aircraft also sport the airline’s new livery, which was unveiled last year.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, commented on the news, saying, “The deployment of our flagship A350s and the B777s with upgraded cabin interiors to London Heathrow marks a significant milestone for Air India. It demonstrates our commitment to elevating the travel experience of our guests to truly world-class standards and to going beyond just meeting customer expectations as we continue to renew our fleet.”

“With our industry-leading cabin products on the A350, including a new Premium Economy experience and a host of new onboard enhancements rolling out, we are confident that these daily flights between India and London Heathrow will soon be the preferred choice for travellers,” added Wilson.

Looking Ahead

Earlier this month, British Airways announced plans for a third daily flight between London Heathrow and Delhi, commencing on 20 April 2025. As competition heats up, the introduction of the A350-900 on the Delhi-Heathrow route positions Air India at the forefront of luxury travel, offering passengers an elevated travel experience.