New generation Airbus A-320 joins Air India

Mumbai, March 3 : The first of the new generation Airbus A-320 aircraft joined the Air India fleet Wednesday at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad where the India Aviation 2010 got underway.

Offering latest comforts, the aircraft is equipped with the Thales i3000 entertainment system, advanced weather radar system, enhanced ground proximity warning system, LCD cockpit display system and a state-of-the-art digital cabin management system.

According to an AI statement here, the 140-seater has a twin class configuration with 20 seats in the executive class and 120 in the economy class.

It was received by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and other prominent personalities. Executive Vice-president of Airbus Kiran Rao handed over the title of the aircraft to Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav on the occasion.

AI has ordered 43 Airbus aircraft, including 20 A-321, 19 A-319 and four A-320, of which 40 have been received and joined the fleet. By next month, it expects the delivery of the remaining aircraft, one A-321 and three A-320s.

Besides these, the airline has ordered 58 Boeing aircraft of which 35, including eight B777-200LR, nine B777-300ER and 18 B737-200, for the low cost Air India Express have been delivered.

Presently, Air India covers 51 international destinations across the US, Europe, Canada, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Gulf.

On the domestic network, it reaches 62 destinations, including the remote Ladakh, the northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.