Air India is nearing the take-off phase for more routes in the US-India nonstop travel corridor after the past two years of intensive preparations, such as fleet expansion, pilot training, inflight dining, customer service, new brand identity, and digital upgrades. If everything goes well from upward travel demand to regulatory approvals for Air India’s expansion in the US, Indians of Dallas TX, Los Angeles, and Seattle WA will get nonstop flights to India in the second half of 2024.
PC: Boeing
Earlier Boston and Los Angeles were the focal points of the Tata airline’s US network expansion plans. However, direct Boston to India flights may not become a reality in the near future to the dismay of New England Indians, according to sources close to the airline. Boston may have lost out to the recent increase in the weekly frequency of Air India flights from New York JFK, Newark EWR, and Washington IAD. The focus is shifting to the south and the west coast of USA from the east coast.
Texas’ Indian immigrants and the Southern California Indian community have been strong contenders for nonstop travel to India from USA for years. San Francisco is the city having direct connectivity to India for a greater part of America from the south to the west. Catching SFO to India direct flights is not viable for those residing in Texas and Washington State. Undeniably, the highly anticipated Air India service to Dallas and Seattle would help fill the demand-supply gap.
The likelihood of Seattle to India direct flights by Air India has rejuvenated the hopes of Indians in Washington, who were left disappointed by American Airlines’ constant deferment of Seattle to Bengaluru nonstop service. at the same time, a fare war between Air India and the Gulf carriers (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines) operating one-stop flights from Seattle to India is not unexpected.
The launch of nonstop service to Seattle would follow the planned induction of Air India’s brand new A350 aircraft into international operations by mid-2024. Currently into domestic service across India, the A350-900 is a widebody aircraft with premium economy and capable of flying long-haul distance for 16-17 hours nonstop. Check out our exclusive article about Air India’s A350-900 offering elevated comfort in world-class travel cabins equipped with high-quality amenities.
With 31-inch seat pitch, economy seats are a breather for travelers aboard the A350. Reportedly, Air India may deploy Boeing 777-9 for its likely nonstop service to India from Dallas and Los Angeles. A fleet of new widebody B777-9 planes will join Air India starting from the end of 2024, as part of the US$34-billion deal with Boeing.
A glimpse of A350-900s to be inducted into Air India’s fleet
Currently, IndianEagle.com has best deals for LAX, Seattle and Dallas to India flights by Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airways, British Airways, SWISS Airlines and others.
When will they fly to Seattle, also there were no other sources about this.
Hi! In our assumption, Seattle is in the queue. The nonstop connectivity from Los Angeles was long overdue. Of course, Boston being considered for nonstop travel to India is a surprise. We are sanguine Seattle and Dallas would get their share of nonstop air connectivity to India.
What about increasing the frequency from Washington DC? Anything from Calcutta too?
Hi Rajan! In our knowledge, future nonstop flights from more US cities will be destined to New Delhi and/or Mumbai. FYI, New Delhi IGI Airport is being developed as a transit hub for international travelers.
People are moving out of California to Texas due to the coast of living even big companies are moving out so I think you should consider Texas above California
Hi Benny! Nonstop connectivity from Los Angeles was long overdue. It is just the beginning. With more new aircraft to be inducted, Air India will be penetrating the US marketing further. We are sanguine Dallas/Houston to be connected to India with nonstop flights in the near future.
Anyway, these flights will be started from Mumbai or Delhi and they won’t consider Chennai.
ThankYou Emirates/Qatar for providing a connection to Chennai via MiddleEast.
I fly from DFW to LHR onwards to MAA. Or via Colombo to TRV. Much more convenient that Qatar or Emirates with a 11 hour flight and couple of hours of break if you fly to Chennai directly from London.
If you fly Srilankan to Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi, the connection is at 9 pm or so and I usually get out to London to spend time. In Colombo Srilankan provides you with free hotel for overnight stay for connections to Thiruvananthapuram. For about $80 you can get a private tour of Colombo.
The service and food onboard Srilankan is excellent.
Hi Srimanikandhan! Thank you for sharing this information with us!
Chennai doesn’t even have a non stop Air India to Europe. Why does most flights have to fly out of Delhi. already several foreign airlines fly there. its not only they give so many choice for people flying to DEL. They also get a dicounted fares… fare are at least 200-300$ more to Chennai compared to DEL/BOM/BLR.
Air India needs to fly at least a non stop to Europe(From MAA) now .. right now.. to begin at least few times a week if not daily.. United or other Star alliance partner can connect. Kindly request IndiaEagle to forward this request.
Good riddance!!!!
leaving most populous dallas region aside and strating non stop from boston and Los Angeles doesnt make any sense considering bothe these regions already got one non stop flights within 2 hr connection in JFK and SFO. Air india’s leadership should work on their road maps and ROI properly.
Los Angeles provides a much higher yield in Business Class, where airlines make money. The economy class is not a money spinner for any airline. Los Angeles is historically more affluent and willing to spend money on a flight ticket than areas such TX.
Can hardly wait. But is the visa going to be less trouble to get?
Hi Katherine! What visa are you talking about?
Any plan to start non stop services from Seattle to Delhi/Mumbai?
Hi Sunil! Seattle will definitely get nonstop air connectivity to India in the near future. Many surprises are anticipated given Air India’s fleet modernization and ongoing transformation.
Hope Air India flies direct to Auckland NZ, Nigeria and South Africa. Lot of Indians need direct connectivity.
Help us get visa for India
Getting E-Visa is much more simplified now.
When was this article written? This is a subject I closely follow and if the LAX news is true then that would be such a big boon as a Delhiite who lives in SoCal. Could you provide link(s) to official announcements or speculations from Air India?
Hi Ankit! This article was published on July 27. It is based on the insider information that the airline is evaluating many aspects of starting nonstop service from LAX, Boston and other cities. With new planes getting ready to be inducted into the fleet, Air India will expand its network in the US for sure.
Will there be nonstop flights to chennai? I see only mumbai, delhi & Bangalore.
Hi Praveen! As far as we know, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru airports are being developed as transit hubs for international arrivals in India.
very sure i hope @ beginning air india airbus a350-900 would go directly non-stop from newark liberty airport to delhi & then bit later air india airbus a350-1,000 directly non-stop fron newark libery airport to delhi.
Hi,
Atlanta definitely needs it and a big potential market. Especially travelling to Hyd from ATL has only two major options Qatar and British airways. Do you know when it’s going to happen?
Hi Ram! Hope never dies. Someday, Atlanta’s turn for nonstop air connectivity to India will definitely come.
Hi,
When will be booking open for this new Boston Flight? Do you really think they will start this year? Any insight helpful?
Hi Sundar! We will share on our portal and social media pages whenever further updates are available.
Any chances that direct flight will start from Tampa/Orlando Florida to Mumbai India? We have very less options to avoid 2 stops!
Hi Beena! Turkish Airlines is likely to start one-stop service between Orlando and India. FYI, Emirates Airlines has Orlando to India itineraries with one-stop layover. You can check and book Emirates flight deals on IndianEagle.com.
When can we expect a direct flight from Dallas to India? It has been a long time waiting..
Hi Hari! International network expansion is one of the milestones that Air India is looking forward to with new aircraft to be inducted into the fleet.
Chennai really needs a non stop badly from Air India.. at least to Europe so that other Star Alliance partners can connect to US. Europe airlines choices are not enough. already lot of foreign airlines other than EK/QR fly to Delhi. Air india also keeps flying more to non stops to Europe and US Del.
with less choices flights to Chennai cost $200-300 more than Delhi. Kindly request India Eagle to request non stop at least few times a week to (begin with) to Europe so that families can see a little relief on the flight fare.
Hi Diwakar! Among the European airlines, Lufthansa and British Airways fly to Chennai. Indian Eagle is a leading travel-booking portal. You can check our portal for the best deals for travel to/from Chennai.
Is there any news of a direct flights to Bangalore from a US east coast hub? I understand west coast connectivity but there seems to be enough of a market from the east as well. Thanks!
Hi Sanjay! There’s no indication as of now. Hope this route be a consideration for Air India.
Its a pity there are no direct flights from Hyderabad which is supposedly has some of the highest traffic to the US
Hi Sriram! We could not agree more. The strength of Telugu diaspora in the United States is more than 7 lakh. They deserve direct flight service to Hyderabad.
Please consider a non stop flight from Dallas to Mumbai. There are a lot of Indians in Dallas and more migrating from California and Chicago. We have no non-stop flights to India.
Hi Mihir! We could not agree more on this. The Indian community in Dallas Metropolitan Area deserves nonstop flight service to India. The day is not far when Dallas Indians will get to travel to the home country without international transit.
Hi! Any update on the nonstop Delhi LAX flight. It was supposed to be in early 2024
Been waiting forever for a Dallas-Mumbai non stop, now Air-India got new aircraft, what is the bottleneck here, is it from Indian side or US side? Dallas Mumbaikars should start a group push for this to happen now, we have waited so long.
Seattle to Hyderabad please!!! Any chance of that??
LAX has had so many false starts. This is the 3rd time since 2017 that AI has hinted at LAX, only for it to expand elsewhere when they received more aircraft. Time for them to put their money where their mouth is or to shut up because quite frankly this is getting old.
Will you be considering BOSTON TO CHENNAI DIRECT SERVICE ?
Chennai should have lot of demand as 4th biggest Metropolitan city of India.
CHENNAI is a gateway to South India and lot of people travel from here.
When Boston to India flight Starting?
Hi Kumud! The latest update is that this nonstop service is likely to see the daylight early in 2024. No definite date has been announced though.
Air India needs direct flights (no stops and/or layovers) from LAX to Delhi and LAX to Mumbai. These are long way overdue. A Consulate General opening in Los Angeles would be amazing too. The one up in San Francisco is miserable to deal with. I hope with Tata’s purchase of Air India these flights will be much more pleasant. It will cut travel time by at least 8-10 hours if they have these direct flights as switching planes in Asia, Europe or the Middle East will not be necessary anymore.
Is there any update on the Boston to Delhi direct flight?
When Air India will start direct fights to LA and what will be the origin Delhi /Mumbai?
Hi Ajinkya! The latest information is that Air India’s nonstop service from LAX to India (possibly Delhi) is likely to take off in early 2024. We recommend subscribing to our monthly newsletter for such latest updates. Thank you!
what happened to Bos-Del direct flight
Any update on LAX to Delhi flight?
Any chances Air India to start services from LAX, Seattle to Mumbai as well? (Thanx AI, for SFO – BOM service). It’s given that any new Air India service starts and terminates in Delhi and Delhi alone. If it’s going to be one stop through Delhi then MEast3, British, SIA, Turkish, KLM or other carriers are going to be just fine. Air India has to give up on a single Delhi hub strategy. Travelers from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai or any other major city are looking for direct Nonstop Air India flights as a key service differentiator. A350s (especially A350-1000s) may be too big for some routes to offer nonstop services but luckily AI has 787-9s and even 788s. I hope the new Air India starts with a new vision. Thank you.
Wah wah nonstop to Dallas-FortWorth from India. My relationship lots of living in Texas.
Proud of Tata Air India
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