Air India Plans US Expansion with New Routes and Increased Connectivity

Feature and Cover Air India Unveils Major Overhaul of International Routes for 2025

Tata Group-owned Air India is set to expand its footprint in the United States with new destinations and additional flights, supported by its acquisition of new widebody aircraft. As of December 2024, Air India serves five US cities: Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington Dulles (IAD).

Planned US Destinations

Air India, a member of the Star Alliance, is considering adding routes to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Boston Logan (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), and more, with flights originating from its hub at Delhi International Airport (DEL).

Los Angeles (LAX)

The Los Angeles-Delhi route, spanning 8,013 miles (12,895 kilometers), is under consideration, with plans to use Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s. Strong demand for this route was evident in 2017, with over 300,000 passengers recorded, according to IATA data.

In 2017, Air India announced plans for the DEL-LAX route during the launch of flights to Washington Dulles. Ashwani Lohani, then Chairman and MD of Air India, stated, “We are planning to connect two additional cities—Los Angeles and either Houston or Dallas… The Los Angeles route is expected to begin by October 2017.” However, the plan was shelved. Now under Tata Group’s leadership, Air India aims to transform into a global competitor to airlines like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Lufthansa.

Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)

The Seattle-Delhi route, approximately 7,061 miles (11,363 kilometers), would take over 14 hours. Seattle-India traffic averages 510 daily passengers, based on OAG data. While American Airlines once considered a Seattle-Bangalore route, it never materialized. Air India is now evaluating the Seattle-Delhi connection.

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Houston (IAH)

Dallas and Houston have vied for Air India’s attention since 2005. DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue highlighted significant demand, with 800 daily passengers traveling between Dallas and India. The distance from Delhi to Dallas is about 8,186 miles (13,174 kilometers), while Houston lies slightly farther at 8,373 miles (13,475 kilometers).

While there are discussions about potential Dallas-Hyderabad (HYD) flights, operational challenges persist. Air India’s widebody fleet is currently stationed in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Additionally, sustaining point-to-point demand daily or even three times a week during non-peak seasons remains a concern.

Indian citizens residing in DFW have filed petitions advocating for direct flights. Of the 400,000 Indians in the area, 50-60% are Telugu-speaking, indicating substantial demand for the proposed route.

Texas has seen rapid growth in its Indian population, making it the second-largest state for this demographic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, any DFW-DEL or DFW-HYD routes will likely depend on Air India’s widebody fleet expansion, which could take several years.

Boston Logan (BOS)

Boston’s India market exceeded 185,000 passengers in 2019, as reported by anna.aero. Air India may consider using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to serve the 7,146-mile (11,500 kilometers) Boston-Delhi route. Aviation analyst Jain notes that Air India is exploring expansion to multiple North American cities, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas/Houston, and Boston.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) and Philadelphia (PHL)

Atlanta, the world’s busiest international airport, is another potential destination. The Indian Consulate in Atlanta has actively advocated for direct Air India flights to the city. The Delhi-Atlanta route spans 7,985 miles (12,850 kilometers).

Philadelphia also emerged as a possible route when American Airlines considered an India service in 2019, though it later abandoned the plan. The distance between Delhi and Philadelphia is 7,399 miles (11,907 kilometers).

Current Operations and Market Position

Presently, Air India operates 11 North American routes, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to cities including New York (JFK), Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, Toronto, and Vancouver. With plans to expand to destinations like Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Seattle, the airline is focusing on enhancing its US network.

From October 2024 to February 2025, Air India will account for 75% of the nonstop seats between India and North America, according to Cirium data. Together with Star Alliance partners Air Canada and United Airlines, this share increases to 94%, underscoring their dominance in direct routes.

Despite its extensive reach, Air India holds a 13% market share of total India-North America traffic due to competition from one-stop flights via European, Middle Eastern, and East Asian hubs. The airline’s strategy emphasizes direct connections between key Indian cities and major North American business centers.

Looking Ahead

The proposed destinations represent just a fraction of Air India’s future network plans. By 2030, the airline aims to operate numerous new routes, solidifying its position as a leading global carrier.

One thought on “Air India Plans US Expansion with New Routes and Increased Connectivity

  1. Currently Air India has old broken planes flying from Chicago and Delhi. The entertainment system does not work. The food trays are broken. The seat covers are torn. The planes fly but the interior has to be refurbished. Air India management is talking about adding new flights while the passengers are taking to social media about their sad flying experience in the older planes. Air India management has no shame as it is ignoring the conditions of its existing fleet. The only advantage for choosing Air India is it offers direct flights to India saving time and reducing the miserable flying experience for the passengers and its crew.

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