NEW DELHI: This is the first time AI One — called India One now — has flown nonstop from India to North America on the newly inducted state-of-the-art Boeing 777.
The plane flew from Delhi Airport’s Palam technical Area to Washington’s Joint Base Andrews in just under 15.5 hours. It didn’t overfly Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, an airspace being avoided by all commercial flights.
Air India had flown two Boeing 777s about three years back to the US as passenger flights. These planes were retrofitted for dedicated VVIP use with sophisticated military grade security and communication equipment. AI pilots operate these aircraft and IAF pilots are being trained to fly them.

Earlier, Air India’s Boeing 747 jumbo jets used to fly one-stop via Germany. The journey used to take about a day, including the time spent at the stopover
Unlike the AI jumbos were converted (from commercial use to a VVIP flight) by removing seats to create sleeping area, the B777s are dedicated for VVIP longhauls. No overhead cabin baggage leads to a spacious feel in the cabin.