At the outset of 2023, International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasted air passenger traffic to reach 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and surpass the previous numbers in 2024. International airlines’ response to rapidly increasing demand for air travel with a network overhaul is riding the recovery of the aviation industry post pandemic. As part of their global expansion plans, many international airlines including Etihad, Air India, United Airlines, Air France, Turkish Airways, and Lufthansa are charting new routes to India besides increasing service frequency on their existing routes. This means the launch of new routes and flights, both nonstop and connecting, between the US and India.
Etihad Airways’ new destinations in USA and India
To compete with rival airlines, Etihad Airways is expanding its network both in the US and India. After having declared Boston as its fourth destination in the United States, Etihad is all set to launch flights to two new destinations in Kerala as part of its winter schedule. Starting in January 2024, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram will see Etihad flights from USA to India via Abu Dhabi.
Cheap Etihad Airways deals for flights to Kozhikode from USA are available on IndianEagle.com. After Qatar Airways, Etihad will be the second airline to be operating to Calicut International Airport, Kozhikode. Etihad Airways’ entry into competition with Emirates and Qatar Airways is good for economy travelers seeking cheap flight tickets to Thiruvananthapuram from USA via AUH.
Etihad Airways’ Boston to India service will take off on March 31, 2024.
Turkish Airlines’ new routes from USA to India
Of the few major events to impact travel between USA and India this year (2023) end is Turkish Airlines’ new service from Detroit with connection to India via Istanbul. Detroit to India flights by Turkish Airlines will take off on 15 November 2023, and the thrice-a-week service will be increased to four times a week in 2024. Interestingly, Turkish Airlines is the first Middle East carrier to be catering to Detroit in the Midwest.
Other than cheap Turkish Airlines tickets to India from USA, the new service has a few advantages over Lufthansa, British Airways, American Airlines and Air France connecting Detroit to India. Read more about Detroit to India service: Turkish Airlines vs European airlines. Reportedly, Denver in Colorado, and Orlando in Florida are Turkish Airlines’ potential destinations in the United States.
Air France’s new destinations in USA
Good news for North Carolina Indians! Starting 3o October 2023, Air France will open up a new route from Raleigh and connect it further to India via Paris. Currently, most flights from Raleigh to India are operated by American Airlines and United Airlines (along with its interline partner, Air India). Both these airlines allow international travelers to check in only one bag for free. Air France’s weekly thrice service from Raleigh-Durham International Airport would be a good alternative to two-stop itineraries originating in Charlotte.
However, the growing Indian-origin community in the Research Triangle Park, NC is seeking nonstop connectivity from Raleigh to India.
Minneapolis is another upcoming destination of Air France in its US network. Air France flights from Minneapolis are scheduled to take off in May 2024; a definite date of the launch is yet to be announced. The airline will also increase its thrice weekly service to/from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to five times a week.
Air India’s new routes from USA to India
Air India is reportedly planning to expand its nonstop India-USA flights service to Boston and Los Angeles where a sizable Indian community lives. Boston Logan Airport, the largest and busiest airport in New England, is a gateway to the six-state region. Apart from holiday and business travelers, a large number of Indian students will be the beneficiaries of direct flight service from Boston to India.
On the other hand, Los Angeles is most likely to be the origin of Air India’s another new service between USA and India. Indian immigrants in Southern California have been anticipating nonstop connectivity from Los Angeles to India for the past few years. These two routes are likely to be introduced in November or December 2023. We also see the likelihood of having Dallas and Atlanta in Air India’s US network in 2024.
Kuwait Airways’ new route from USA to India
Kuwait Airways flights from USA to India will also take off from Washington Dulles (IAD) on 15 December 2023. After New York JFK, Washington Dulles is the second US gateway to the airline. The airline will operate the new service from Washington DC three times a week and seamless connect it to Delhi and Mumbai via its hub, Kuwait City. Kuwait Airways’ best deals for USA to Indian flights are available through IndianEagle.com, a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in America. Like other Middle East carriers, Kuwait Airways allows two bags to be checked in per international traveler (on adult fare) for free.
United Airlines to reinstate suspended routes to India
To compete in the US-India nonstop travel market, United Airlines is reinstating its nonstop service on the routes to India that the airline had suspended due to its restricted access to the Russian airspace. Its Chicago to Delhi nonstop service will resume from 20 March 2024 while the exact dates of the resumption of United flights from Newark to Mumbai and from San Francisco to Delhi are yet to be announced.
To cater to the growing demand for travel between the northeast US and India without international transit, United Airlines is ramping up the frequency of its Newark to New Delhi flights nonstop. Starting 29 October, United Airlines will run double daily flights between Newark EWR and Delhi IGI Airport.
Lufthansa’s new destinations in USA and India
Raleigh, Minneapolis, and Seattle are Lufthansa’s new destinations in the United States. The German flag carrier’s daily service to and from Seattle will take off on 30 May 2024, which will be further connected to India via Munich or Frankfurt. After Air France, Lufthansa is the second European airline to start serving Raleigh-Durham International Airport from 06 June 2024. North Carolina Indians will get to fly on five weekly Lufthansa flights from Raleigh to Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru other than Delhi and Mumbai.
Lufthansa is on an expansion spree in India. Hyderabad is the newest and fifth destination of Lufthansa flights to India from USA via Frankfurt. Starting from 16 January 2024, Lufthansa will touch down at HYD RGI Airport on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This will facilitate one-stop travel to Hyderabad for Indians residing in Charlette, Detroit, Denver and Orlando, since Lufthansa is one of the few non-American airlines flying from those US cities. It marks Lufthansa’s comeback to the City of Pearls after the service was suspended in 2011.
Minneapolis will see Lufthansa’s five weekly service starting 04 June 2024. Indians of Minnesota will be able to travel on one-stop flights to India from Minneapolis not only by Air France but also Lufthansa in almost the second half of 2024. Interestingly, Lufthansa’s new travel cabins with Premium Economy seats will make a debut around the same in 2024.
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
No, American will not launch chennai route until 2025.
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.
Air India should start Direct Flight to Ahmedabad .
Hi Sudhan! Hope it will become a reality in the near future.
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.
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