These 150 flights in a week allow you to experience widebody aircraft on domestic routes in India

Wider cabins, smoother ride, roomier feel – some of the points which come up for discussion everytime there is one about a widebody versus narrowbody, especially during current times when narrowbody aircraft are constantly pushing the envelope of range. Do you know the second half of April will see 150 widebody flights within India and you could be able to experience the widebody experience on a domestic flight? All of these flights will be operated by Air India. Recently Vistara – which was in the news for delays and cancellations, had deployed a few flights on its 787-9 dreamliner aircraft. On a scheduled basis, Vistara does not deploy the 787 on domestic routes. 

Of the 150 weekly widebody flights, 96 flights are operated with the three A350-900s which Air India has inducted, while 42 are operated by the B77Ws, 10 by 787s and 2 by B77Ls. 

This data has been obtained from multiple sources with the prime source being Cirium – an aviation analytics company, cross verified with the booking engines of airlines. However, like all schedules, this is subject to change.

Here is the list of flights in the second half of April which you can book to enjoy widebody aircraft in domestic skies.

Flight	Sector	Aircraft	Dep Time	Arr Time	Op Days	Ops/Week
AI-589	BLR-BOM	A359	0705	0850	1.34567	6
AI-868	BLR-DEL	A359	0740	1030	.23….	2
AI-583	BLR-HYD	A359	0710	0810	12.4.6.	4
AI-591	BLR-HYD	A359	1435	1545	.2…6.	2
AI-585	BLR-MAA	A359	1435	1545	1..45.7	4
AI-587	BLR-MAA	A359	1600	1710	1.34567	6
AI-585	BOM-BLR	A359	2110	2255	1..45.7	4
AI-591	BOM-BLR	A359	2145	2325	.2…6.	2
AI-864	BOM-DEL	A359	0705	0915	12345.7	6
AI-627	BOM-DEL	A359	0830	1045	…..6.	1
AI-687	BOM-DEL	A359	1600	1830	12345.7	6
AI-589	BOM-MAA	A359	1005	1205	1.34567	6
AI-869	DEL-BLR	A359	1900	2150	.23….	2
AI-865	DEL-BOM	A359	1045	1250	12345.7	6
AI-628	DEL-BOM	A359	1840	2055	…..6.	1
AI-805	DEL-BOM	A359	2000	2225	12345.7	6
AI-587	HYD-BLR	A359	2110	2220	1.34567	6
AI-591	HYD-BOM	A359	1855	2025	.2…6.	2
AI-583	HYD-MAA	A359	0925	1035	12.4.6.	4
AI-583	MAA-BLR	A359	1205	1305	12.4.6.	4
AI-589	MAA-BLR	A359	1320	1430	1.34567	6
AI-585	MAA-BOM	A359	1810	2005	1..45.7	4
AI-587	MAA-HYD	A359	1830	1940	1.34567	6

Flight	Sector	Aircraft	Dep Time	Arr Time	Op Days	Ops/Week
AI-687	BOM-DEL	77L	1600	1830	…..6.	1
AI-805	DEL-BOM	77L	2000	2225	…..6.	1
AI-816	BOM-DEL	77W	2100	2315	1234567	7
AI-441	DEL-BOM	77W	1715	2005	1234567	7
AI-544	DEL-HYD	77W	1700	1910	1234567	7
AI-537	DEL-MAA	77W	1615	1910	1234567	7
AI-840	HYD-DEL	77W	2040	2300	1234567	7
AI-538	MAA-DEL	77W	2040	2325	1234567	7
AI-422	AMD-DEL	788	1150	1330	1……	1
AI-492	ATQ-DEL	788	1300	1415	….5.7	2
AI-419	COK-DEL	788	1400	1720	1..4…	2
AI-421	DEL-AMD	788	0725	0905	.2…..	1
AI-491	DEL-ATQ	788	1110	1210	….5.7	2
AI-420	DEL-COK	788	0710	1015	.2…..	1
AI-420	DEL-COK	788	0715	1020	…4…	1

Delhi – the epicentre of widebody operations

The first two A359s are based in Bengaluru while one will be in Mumbai, operating twice daily Mumbai – Delhi – Mumbai flights. Of the 150 departures, 42 are from Delhi, while 33 are from Mumbai. Even with the addition of a Bengaluru base for the A359s, Bengaluru remains fourth at 24 weekly departures while Chennai takes the third spot with 27 weekly departures. 

Delhi is connected to Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Amritsar and Ahmedabad with A350s, B777s and B787s. The Delhi – Mumbai – Delhi route sees 21 weekly flights each way on widebody aircraft while Chennai – Bengaluru has 10 weekly flights each way.

Keeping the A359s aside which are being deployed for limited period for crew familiarisation amongst other things, the good old Boeings from the Air India fleet offer 54 weekly flights, 44 on the B777s and 10 on the 787s. The B787s see twice a week service to Amritsar and Kochi  from Delhi and once a week to Ahmedabad. The 777s offer one daily to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai and a once a week service of B77L between Mumbai – Delhi and vice versa

Network Thoughts

In earlier times, Air India rotated its 747s and 310s between Mumbai and Delhi with red eye flights for maintenance and utilisation. These flights were known to be very cheap and empty. Air traffic then was just a fraction of what it is now and Air India was primarily an international carrier, pre merger with Indian Airlines. The reason today for such flights is manifold. In some cases, it is the rotation of airframes for engineering and maintenance requirements, in a few others it is for additional utilisation or uplifting cargo for flights beyond Delhi. 

As the South East Asian network grows for Air India over the next few years and it builds a better connection bank along with attracting more passengers, these widebody runs may move to or add Southeast Asian destinations which are today served by narrowbody aircraft. 

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