Air India Resumes Nonstop Flights to Vienna
The Indian flag carrier is resuming suspended routes during the pandemic and increasing capacity on long-haul routes to the U.S.
Photo: Vienna, Austria. Courtesy of Jacek Dylag / Unsplash
Air India resumed flights between its primary hub at Delhi and Vienna— the fourth destination announced by the airline since the beginning of the year.
Suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid pandemic outbreak, the service to the Austrian capital will now be operated by the airline’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, featuring 18 seats in Business Class and 236 in Economy Class.
“A key element of Air India’s transformation into a world-class airline is to keep enhancing connectivity between India’s major cities and leading global destinations,” said Nipun Aggarwal, the airline’s Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer. “Adding this new service to Vienna, following the recent service to Milan, reiterates our commitment to this mission.”
Photo: Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Daniel Eledut / Unsplash
In addition to Vienna, as noted by Aggarwal, the Indian carrier re-launched nonstop flights to Milan-Malpensa on February 1, four times per week.
The new service to Vienna will run three times per week, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. According to Air India, the flight will depart from Delhi at 14.35 and land in the Austrian capital at 18.45. On the way back, it leaves at 20.15 to arrive in Delhi at 8.05 the following day.
With the three rotations to Vienna, the carrier flies 66 times per week nonstop between India and five European cities.
Other Route Enhancements
In addition to Vienna and Milan, Air India will increase its presence in Europe with new flights to Copenhagen that will launch on March 1, followed by new links to Paris and Frankfurt before the start of the summer season.
In North America, the airline resumed flights between Mumbai and New York JFK, bringing 47 weekly nonstop flights to five U.S. destinations: Newark, Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco and JFK.
Finally, beginning March 26, London Gatwick will be served thrice weekly from Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Goa, and Kochi.
Air India Places World’s Largest Aircraft Order
On February 14, the airline made the news worldwide as it signed a letter of intent to purchase the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history.
Air India signed blockbuster orders with Boeing and Airbus for 470 new aircraft. The agreements, which could total more than $100 billion, represent the largest one-time deal in commercial aviation history.
Boeing and Air India celebrate an order for 190 737 MAX, 20 787 Dreamliner, and ten 777X airplanes. Photo: Courtesy of Boeing
Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, explained that this massive order from Boeing will enable the airline to “dramatically expand its network, both domestically and internationally,” and will feature an all-new “world-class onboard product enabling passengers to travel in the highest levels of comfort and safety.”
