Air India recently inducted its first new generations, latest single-aisle A321neo after the acquisition by Tata Group. The aircraft took off from Hamburg, Germany on March 25, 2023 for Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
Last month, the aircraft made its first test flight from Hamburg and spending little over a couple of hours over northern Germany.
The new A321neo, however, is not part of Air India’s recent order with Airbus. This aircraft is a part of carrier’s plan to induct over 35 aircraft on lease to meet its immediate operational demands. The latest plane was initially destined for Russia's Smartavia, but the sanctions on the Russia have led to the delivery of this aircraft to Air India.
The airline has also signed a lease for six A320neos with CDB Aviation in 2022 which will be delivered in the second half of 2023.
Airbus claims that the A321neo is the longest-fuselage member of Airbus’ best-selling, single-aisle A320 Family, comfortably seating 180 to 220 passengers in a typical two-class layout, and as many as 244 in a higher-density arrangement.