Like previous years, 2026 will see airlines launching new routes and reshuffling their existing flights in the US-India corridor. 2025 had a great lineup of new flight services from USA to India, with strong anticipations for Air India’s nonstop connectivity to Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Atlanta. Air India’s direct network expansion is not happening in the US anytime soon, whereas Cathay Pacific and British Airways are making a comeback to Seattle and Dallas DFW respectively in 2026. St. Louis in Missouri, and Charlotte, NC will get new one-stop flights to India in the New Year.
Cathay Pacific resuming flights to Seattle
Of the airlines opening new routes between USA and India in 2026 is Cathay Pacific. Seattle Tacoma Airport is all set to welcome back Cathay Pacific Airways after 6 years of its last flight to Seattle in 2020. Cathay Pacific’s five weekly service to and from Seattle is scheduled to take off on 30 March in 2026. Indians in the West Coast will get another route option to fly from Seattle to India via Hong Kong.
IndianEagle.com offers the best flight deals of Cathay Pacific and other airlines operating from Seattle and other US cities to India. Seattle will be its 7th US gateway after Boston, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas, Texas. In 2025, the flag carrier of Hong Kong added Dallas DFW and Hyderabad RGI airports to its network. Cathay Pacific is known for offering cozy seating, quality customer service, and outstanding inflight dining in all travel classes.
Etihad Airways connecting Charlotte to India via Abu Dhabi
A new route a year keeps Etihad Airways growing in the US-India travel market. After having successfully connected Boston and Atlanta to India in 2024 and 2025 respectively, Etihad is all set for Charlotte, NC with four weekly flights starting 23 March 2026. North Carolina Indians will get to travel on Etihad flights to India from Charlotte other than Lufthansa operating from RDU Airport. Precisely, Etihad is the first Middle East carrier to expand to North Carolina, USA.
“Flying with Etihad Airways has certain perks, including Abu Dhabi stopover programs. We have the best Abu Dhabi stopover packages with discounts for Indians and Americans. The best Indian Eagle deals for Etihad flights and Abu Dhabi stopover are available over phone calls to +1800-615-3969. One of the 10 safest carriers in the world, Etihad is a family-friendly airline with inflight nanny service and trained nurses for guests,” said Dheeraj Dhuvvuru, CEO of IndianEagle.com.
British Airways resuming flights to St. Louis and Dallas DFW
St. Louis, Missouri is one of the new flight routes coming up between USA and India in 2026. From 19 April, British Airways will be flying to St. Louis International Airport four times a week and connect its flights from St. Louis to India via London Heathrow. This route will be operated by B787 Dreamliner known for fuel efficiency, comfort, and sleek cabin design. The aircraft has three cabin classes: World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and Club World (business class).
Currently, most airlines have two-stop itineraries from St. Louis to India, except United and American Airlines. Flying with United or American Airlines means checking in only one bag for free – a disadvantage for family travellers. However, British Airways’ upcoming service will provide Indians in Missouri with smooth one-stop flights to Delhi and Mumbai and generous checked baggage allowance. Book British Airways tickets at affordable prices through IndianEagle.com.
Interestingly, British Airways will resume its service to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; and Miami, Florida in summer 2026. Reportedly, British Airways’ Dallas to India flights via London Heathrow will be restored with a daily service, while Miami International Airport will get a double daily service by the airline. BA is also ramping up its frequency to 14 weekly services to San Diego and Austin in the south coast.
EgyptAir making comeback to Chicago and LAX
EgyptAir is reviving some of its previously terminated services to the United States. Los Angeles LAX and Chicago ORD airports will welcome EgyptAir flights back in 2026. With flights to Los Angeles in May and to Chicago in June 2026, EgyptAir will venture into the Midwest and Southwest regions. Currently, it serves only the US east coast -New York JFK, Newark EWR, and Washington DC, IAD.
Like the Middle East carriers, EgyptAir operates one-stop flights between USA and India via its hub, Cairo International Airport. The upcoming EgyptAir flights from LAX and ORD to Cairo will further connect to New Delhi and Mumbai. Like Ethiopian Airlines’free stopover in Addis Ababa, EgyptAir’s Cairo stopover comes with free accommodation during a layover over 6 hours. International transit passengers can obtain a free 96-hour transit visa to Egypt for a hassle-free stopover.
Turkish Airlines’ partnership with Southwest Airlines
Turkish Airlines has long been eying expansion in both the US and India. While IndiGo serves the purpose by connecting Turkish Airlines’ passengers to its domestic network across India, Southwest Airlines will be serving the same purpose in the US starting 2026. Recently, Southwest Airlines announced interline partnership with Turkish Airlines – which will be effective in 2026.
As an interline partner, Southwest will provide seamless domestic connections to and from Turkish Airlines’ major US gateways, including Dallas DFW, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, New York, and Washington DC. Grab Turkish Airlines’ lowest fare deals for US-India travel at IndianEagle.com.
Air France adding Las Vegas to its network
Come April 2026, Air France will start a three-weekly service to Las Vegas – the entertainment capital of the world. As per the 2026 summer flight schedule, Air France will connect Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Paris CDG on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Like British Airways and KLM, Air France flights from Las Vegas will further connect to India and other countries. Since 2021, Air France has been expanding its US network: Denver in 2021, Dallas DFW in 2022, Raleigh RDU in 2023, Phoenix in 2024, and Orlando, FL in 2025.
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American Airways or Air India should start a direct non stop service to Chennai, from one of the important cities of USA .
American Airways can not as they do not have Tamil crew onboard. Stop Tamil imposition on Americans
They will hire if they plan to launch. No one is imposing anything here.
No, American will not launch chennai route until 2025.
It will launch. But in the future.
EWR to AMD (Ahmedabad) would be a game changer for either United or Air India.
Hi SB! The airport infrastructure is a significant consideration for wide-body aircraft operations. Both United Airlines and Air India use wide-body aircraft for long-haul service from USA to India.
Hi indianeagle, there may be a valid point that you have made, but wanted to add here that AMD (Ahmedabad) is an international airport and it does accommodate wide-bodied aircraft like Boeing 787. There could be other technicalities, which a layman like me may overlook. Also, there could be some other possible reason for not having a direct flight from any of the NYC airports to AMD, lack of enough passengers may be, but it seems highly unlikely. Would love to know other perspectives. Thanks!
Hi PP! Air India ordered 40 A350 family aircraft including 34 A350-1000s and is about to receive 6 A350-900s which are slightly larger than B787 (except the latest variant B787-10). Currently, Air India is using B777-200 LRs (leased from Delta Airlines) for its service between USA and India. Again, B777-200LRs are slightly larger than B787-8.
There was a flight from EWR( NEWRK,NJ,USA) TO AHMEDABAD (AMD). Around 2012 USA rejected the Baggage screening facility saying that AMD airport’s baggage screening system is outdated. That was the reason to stop the direct flight from AMD-EWR. With now new ADANI management, let’s see if they can make it happen!
Air India should start Direct Flight to Ahmedabad .
Hi Sudhan! Hope it will become a reality in the near future.
Yes, should have been done a few years ago. Demand is high on that route.
Hyderabad is quite unconnected from US.
Dallas to Hyderabad
Washington to Hyderabad
Chicago to Hyderabad
will be in full demand
Hi Sreeram! These routes are quite in demand and still unserved. Hope nonstop service will be introduced on these routes someday.
In fact, Dallas, and Houston/Austin would be a great addition.
Yes if Chennai is having direct non stop flight from sfo or a stop at DXB
Will boost tourism and trade
Via DXB will help u s passengers to do shopping
Hi Natarajan! Perhaps you know Emirates operates one-stop flights between USA and India via Dubai.
bec DXB is the headquarters of DXB and there will be change of plane to next destination hence they stop at dxb
Would be nice to see more nonstops to Bombay from places like Chicago, Dallas/Houston, LA, etc.
Hi Jay! We are sanguine that Air India is likely to introduce Chicago to Mumbai and Dallas to Delhi/Mumbai in its international network after the airline receives new aircraft and the existing aircraft cabins are refurbished. There are many surprises as part of the 5-year transformation plan.
Air India needs direct, Dallas to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai.
Hi Jay! We could not agree more on this. Texas Indians deserve direct connectivity from Dallas to India. Hope the day is not far for their demand to be fulfilled.
It would be great and reduce traffic in metros, if satellite cities in India, Indore have connections
Offered under same PNR, from one of Etihad, Emirates, United, Kuwait Airline to establish tie up with Air India
to existing Dubai – Indore – Dubai flight itinerary.
Can Air India work on it
Hi JK! FYI, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airways are serving Indore and other satellite cities through codeshare partnership with IndiGo. Air India is transforming itself into a world-class airline with an expansive network, domestic and international. The likelihood of code-sharing with any Middle-East airline is very low for Air India, in our knowledge.
Hi , Now Cincinnati OH lots of Indians communities growing and expecting more direct flights like Lufthansa start new flights service from( CVG) Cincinnati to Frankfurt International (FRA) or Etihad service from CVG to Doha Airport
lots of Indian communities struggling long waiting to connectivity. If anyone services start from CvG more helpful to avoid long delays connectivity flight either South Indian or north India travel
Why has it taken so long for Air India to launch flights to Delhi? There are about 500 Indians each day traveling between the city pairs. Most connect through doha, dubai, instabul, jfk and others. We have been asking since 2014. With the new A350-900s do you think they will send one to dfw?
Hi Shiv! A lot depends on the new planes to be inducted into the fleet in the coming days.
It is almost nov 2023 would air india finally publish its non stop schedule los angeles to india; Boston to travel india?
Will the service start this year 2023?
Thx
Salam Air suspended it’s services to india from Oct 1.So i would like to know when they will resume its schedule service to India.
@indianeagle I would like to know approximate number of passengers travelling from usa to india on a day. Do you have the data?
Hi Rohit! We don’t have this data. You had better contact the Government of India.
Wondering any new flights routes from Atlanta to Inda apart from Qatar
Need More Connectivity between Detroit – Bengaluru
Pref Nonstop
Why Air India is terminated US to India in New Delhi only instead of direct to Chennai like all other Airlines. At least one metro in South India is a must for Sir India.
Hi Sridharan! Air India provides nonstop flight connectivity between San Francisco and Bengaluru (South India).
Bombay cehnnai and bengaluru are better destinations than delhi from any u s gateway city
new delhi is completely officialdom and not having commercial activity
bombay and then bengaluru and then chennai are the best financial centers for operating
more non stop flights
No direct flights will be allowed from DFW to anywhere India , AA will not allow and it looses it’s monopoly and this has been discussing since several years but no implementation. Hence don’t keep your hopes so high. AA will not allow AI to land at DFW and it’s AA’s hub and if at all there is a demand AA will launch services once they resume their discontinued COVID services. It will take time may be 2027 you may expect a direct flight from DFW to india not near…
A direct Chennai USA flight should be coming soon.
Hoping ?