Air-India plans non-stop
flights to US

New flights from New Delhi/Mumbai to New York/Chicago

BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 3, 2006

Air-India is planning to launch non-stop flights to US, which would take to wings by February 2007, with the airline taking delivery of its first Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft. The flights would be from New Delhi or Mumbai to New York or Chicago.

At present, Air-India operates 28 stop-over flights every week to Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Newark. These planes fly to US destinations connecting European cities including London, Frankfurt and Paris.

The India-US service has been witnessing a very high load factor, at times in the range of 80-90% and the carrier intends to cash on this.

The airline is yet to decide the routes and other details, which would be finalised in another couple of months. The airline has no plans to do away with its existing stopover services, with these services expected to continue for quite some while.

At present, Continental Airlines with a daily non-stop between New Delhi and New York, and American Airlines operating seven non-stop flights to US between New Delhi and Chicago, are the airlines servicing this sector. Both airlines fly Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft.

The deployment of 777-200LR would offer Air-India operational cost savings and the flexibility to serve new, ultra long-range non-stop routes.

Despite the aviation boom in India, Air India has not expanded its aircraft fleet in the last one decade. The recent Boeing mega-order includes 27 787 Dreamliners, 15 777-300ERs and eight 777-200LRs. The fleet expansion will benefit both Air India as well as its low-cost airline subsidiary Air India Express. Delivery of planes will start in November.

The Dreamliners will be flying in the New Delhi-New York and Mumbai-San Francisco routes. Also, with the new aircraft, Air India plans to start flights to Europe and the US from Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.