Air India launches its fifth destination flight in US. The Airlines yesterday launched its first flight from New Delhi to Washington DC. This service to the US capital will be available three times in a week.
The launch took place at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the presence of Charge de Affairs of US Embassy Marykay Loss Carlson, Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani, Commercial Director of Air India Pankaj Shrivastava with other airline officials.
The state-run airlines have deployed its 238-seater Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft for this route which will offer 8 seats in first class, 35 seats in business class while 195 in economy class. But between July 9 to July 17, they will be operating a bigger 321-seater Boeing 777- 300ER aircraft. According to the reports, 90% flights to Washington are filled in the month of July.
Apart from Washington, Air India flies to four US airports including New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco. There are daily flights to Newark, New York and Chicago. However, its Delhi-San Francisco flight is operated six times a week.
Air India’s operations to the US account for 20% of the total revenue of the airlines. In the last fiscal, Air India generated ₹3,200 crore revenue from its US operations alone which was 17% more as compared to the FY 14-15.