Airlines

Airbus widens A350 cabin in mile-high real estate war

Is the new Etihad A350 a game changer? Private cabin for business class and Pro luxury for economy.

Airbus quietly dropped a slogan that had it in a contentious elbow-space dispute with its archrival a decade ago when it unveiled a wider and longer cabin for its A350 in the race for wide-body aircraft sales with Boeing.

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The two aircraft manufacturers frequently argue over fuel efficiency. The most recent attack targets some of the world’s most valuable real estate: the large jet’s cabin, where luxury meets expense.

To make the A350s lighter and more flexible, Airbus announced in a blog that it was introducing a New Production Standard (NPS). The cabin will be lengthened by moving a bulkhead, constricting the cockpit, and removing four inches from interior walls.

The Airbus upgrade, which is crucial for the resurgent wide-body jet market competition, allows up to 34 more seats to reach more than 400 on an A350-1000 compared to the 406-seat Boeing 777X. Additional seats have two effects on airlines: they can increase revenue if they are filled, and they lower the cost per seat, which can lower prices and influence the type of aircraft that an airline chooses to purchase.

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Nine 18-inch wide seats are currently found in each row in the majority of A350 economy cabins. This will be increased to 18.7 inches by the A350 NPS.Seats are 17 inches wide on airlines that opt to add an extra seat to make a row 10 abreast. According to industry sources, this makes it simpler to sell the A350 to major carriers who are discontinuing the 16.4-inch seats available in the 10-row A350’s current model.

Airbus was promoting 18-inch seats while the 787 had nine instead of eight seats in a row, which was hurting sales of the A350. In order to compete with Boeing for seats, Airbus struggled with its large aircraft.

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Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

Soon, Air India aircraft will feature onboard WiFi & all-new cabins: Click here

“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

Air India’s First A350-900: Interior, Routes, &Inflight Features: Click here

This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.