Air India is strengthening its operations in its key international markets to the United Kingdom and the United States, adding twenty weekly flights to London Heathrow (LHR), Birmingham (BHX) and San Francisco (SFO). The additional services to these three global cities will commence between October and December this year, plus the airline will increase capacity to more than 5,000 seats per week for its new schedule.
«As Air India reinvents itself under the Vihaan.AI transformation program, adding frequency and improving connectivity from major Indian cities to more international destinations is an important focus,» said Campbell Wilson, CEO, Air India.
This significant increase in frequency to the U.S. and U.K., as well as the addition of new city pairs and improved aircraft cabin interiors, comes just 10 months after Air India’s acquisition by the Tata Group. It is a clear signal of our intent and a first step towards a much bigger aspiration,» Wilson added.
United Kingdom
The company’s current schedule offers 34 weekly flights in the United Kingdom and will soon increase to 48 nonstop services. Birmingham (BHX) will receive five additional weekly flights, two extra flights to Amritsar (ATQ) and three flights per week to Delhi (DEL), the latter service to resume from October 2.
From London Heathrow (LHR), Air India will add 9 additional operations including: five extra weekly flights to Mumbai (BOM), three from Delhi (DEL) and two to Ahmedabad (AMD). The airline will offer 42 flights a week from the British capital’s main airport from Indian cities.
Air India schedule at London Heathrow (LHR)
- Delhi (DEL): two daily flights (from October 30).
- Mumbai (BOM): 12 flights a week (from October 30).
- Ahmedabad (AMD): four flights a week (from October 30).
- Hyderabad (HYD): three flights a week.
- Goa (GOI): three weekly flights.
- Kochi (COK): three weekly flights.
- Amritsar (ATQ): three weekly flights.
United States
Services from India to the United States will increase from 34 to 40 weekly flights. Air India is adding a new non-stop connection between San Francisco (SFO) and Mumbai (BOM) and will resume the Bangalore (BLR) – SFO route, both services will have three weekly flights operated by Boeing 777-200LR. These new services will be complemented by the operation of ten flights a week between San Francisco (SFO) and Delhi (DEL). The airline will have sixteen operations a week between India and the U.S. West Coast, making it the largest operator in this market.
Flight schedule between Mumbai (BOM) and San Francisco (SFO)
Starts from December 2.
- Flight AI 179 BOM 14:30 – SFO 17:00 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
- Flight AI 180 SFO 21:00 – BOM 03:40+1 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Flight itinerary between Bangalore (BLR) and San Francisco (SFO)
Resumes from December 15.
- Flight AI 175 BLR 14:30 – SFO 17:00 Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
- Flight AI 176 SFO 21:30 – BLR 03:45+2 Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Air India will soon take delivery of five new widebody aircraft to increase its intercontinental operations and expects more flights on its international network. Recently, the airline increased its services between Delhi (DEL) and Vancouver (YVR) to daily flights.
In addition, the airline will also offer destinations from North America to Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Washington – Dulles (IAD) and Toronto – Pearson (YYZ); and Europe to Frankfurt (FRA) and Paris (CDG).
