New Delhi, Dec 25 : The first ever Airbus A 350-900 aircraft, under the Air India flag, landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport on Saturday.

The Airbus A350-900, arrived at New Delhi from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France, at 13:46 Hrs (local time) on December 23. The delivery flight, conducted with the special call sign AI350, was welcomed by Air India representatives. Senior Commander Capt. Monika Batra Vaidya, one of the first Indian pilots trained on the A350, was on board as an observer.

Thus, Air India becomes the first Indian airline to operate the A350, leading a renaissance in the country's aviation landscape. This addition follows Air India's distinction as the first Indian airline to introduce the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in 2012.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, expressed the significance of the moment, stating, "This marks a red-letter day for all of us at Air India. The A350 is not just metal and engines; it’s the flying embodiment of the relentless efforts of all Air India employees towards our airline’s continuing transformation and of our commitment to setting new benchmarks. It is also, in many ways, a declaration of Indian aviation’s resurgence on the world stage.”