Air India to unveil Airbus A350, Boeing 777-9 to debut at Wings India air show in Hyderabad

Inside Wings India 2024 Air Show

Boeing’s newest widebody aircraft 777-9 and the Tata Group's newest engineering marvel Air India's Airbus A350 will be showcased at the Wings India air show in Hyderabad on January 18 for the first time.

The Wings India 2024 event is all set to take flight from January 18 to 21 at Begumpet Airport, showcasing an array of new-generation aircraft displays, allied aviation services, auxiliary unit industries, and advancements in the tourism sector.

Organised by the Airports Authority of India in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)., the four-day extravaganza is anticipated to be Asia’s largest congregation.

Boeing said that the 777-9 flight test airplane is expected to arrive in Hyderabad on January 16 and will be on static display from January 18 and 19.

Boeing also said that Air India will receive 10 777-9s, as part of the carrier’s substantial order placed in 2023. The company added that it has booked more than 450 orders for the 777X family, which includes the 777-8 and 777-9 passenger models and the 777-8 Freighter.

Air India's Airbus 350 will also be on display at the event on the 18th and 19th of January and is expected to begin commercial operations from January 22nd.

Air India's new widebody aircraft will initially be operating domestically for crew familiarisation, followed by long-haul flying to international destinations.

Air India has confirmed that the A350 will commence domestic operations with the first flight taking place from Bengaluru to Mumbai.

The arrival of the first Airbus A350 marked a pivotal moment in Air India’s ongoing transformation narrative. The airline, known for its rich history, welcomed the first of 20 A350-900 aircraft adorned in the new livery last month.

The curtain-raiser event for this upcoming event was held on May 18 in New Delhi. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled the event and promo video and released the Wings India 2024 brochure. Wings India 2024 is scheduled to take place from January 18 to 21, 2024, in Hyderabad.

"The government has adopted a 3-pronged strategy of creating capacities, removing bottlenecks, and simplifying processes that have helped the sector leap from 74 airports to 148 airports in the past nine years," Scindia had said at the curtain-raiser event.

Scindia will be inaugurating the Wings India event on January 17 and will also present the Wings India Awards 2024.

Bengaluru and Delhi international airports have jointly seized the title of Best Airport of the Year at the Wings India Awards 2024.

The best airline award went to Vistara-Tata SIA Airlines. The aviation industry's finest were recognized across various categories, with exemplary performance and innovative approaches setting the bar for excellence.

Bangalore International Airport also clinched the title in the ">25 MPPA Traffic" category, meaning the airport handled over 25 million passengers annually.