Quotes:
The service is likely to start by February 2007. Air-India may launch a non-stop service to the US in early 2007, when the national carrier takes delivery of its first 3 B777-200LR aircraft from Boeing Company.
“The service is likely to start by February 2007. Air-India is exploring the option of starting non-stop service from New Delhi or Mumbai to New York or Chicago,” a source said. Air-India is acquiring 8 777-200LR Worldliners as part of its proposed acquisition of 68 aircraft from Boeing for an estimated $8.1 billion.
The planes are scheduled for delivery beginning November 2006. Currently, Air-India is operating 28 flights a week to Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Newyark connecting via European destinations including London, Frankfurt and Paris.
“The proposed non-stop flights from India to the US will do away with the UK visa requirements for US passengers, though they are not stopping in London. Passengers will prefer non-stop flights,” an industry analyst said. The non-stop service India-US is seeing over 80 per cent load factor and will be a boon to Air-India, they observed.
Currently, Continental Airlines and American Airlines are operating seven flights a week each with 777-200 ER aircraft. The world’s largest airline firm American Airlines is operating its daily transatlantic flight non-stop between New Delhi and Chicago, while Continental Airlines is operating daily non-stop between New Delhi and New York.
Sources in Air-India said the airline is in the process of finalising the route details, however, it would continue with existing stop-over services.The deployment of 777-200LR would offer Air-India operational cost savings and the flexibility to serve new, ultra long range non-stop routes.
Air-India’s order of 68 aircraft comprise 23 777s including 8 777-200LR Worldliners and 15 777-300ERs and 27 787-8 Dreamliners. Air-India Express, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air-India, will receive 18 next generation 737-800s.
AV8AJET From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1265 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 7848 times:
Are the 744's not capable of doing the non-stop flights that the 772LR will do? I thought that the 744 has tremendous range, but maybe the 772LR is better suited capacity wise?
ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 7811 times:
Quoting AV8AJET (Reply 1): I thought that the 744 has tremendous range
It once was the longest ranged commercial aircraft in service... but the A342X, A343X/E, A345, A346, 772ER, 773ER, and soon 772LR all offer more range than does the 744 today.
LAXDESI From United States of America, joined May 2005, 5085 posts, RR: 48 Reply 3, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 7787 times:
I would have liked to see SFO-BLR instead, but BOM is a better choice than DEL if they have only three 772LRs delivered in 2007. As per the article, AA and CO flights have a load factor of over 80% to DEL. Why not use 773ER for JFK/ORD-DEL instead of 772LR. I assume they will be receiving a few 773ER in 2007. Does any one know the delivery schedule?
Tifoso From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 440 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 7720 times:
How about opening routes to southern cities like Bangalore.
Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 6, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 7706 times:
Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 3): I would have liked to see SFO-BLR instead, but BOM is a better choice than DEL if they have only three 772LRs delivered in 2007. As per the article, AA and CO flights have a load factor of over 80% to DEL. Why not use 773ER for JFK/ORD-DEL instead of 772LR. I assume they will be receiving a few 773ER in 2007. Does any one know the delivery schedule?
BOM would be better served, as there would be no competition (thus killing yields) on those routes.....with AA serving ORD/EWR-DEL anyway, it wouldn't make any sense to serve DEL from those cities...
now if AI was smart, they would start services from SJC (not SFO) and LAX to DEL nonstop...
LAXDESI From United States of America, joined May 2005, 5085 posts, RR: 48 Reply 7, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7640 times:
Quoting Karan69 (Reply 4): 16 aircrafts by 2007,
10 737-800,
03 777-200LR
03 777-300 ER
Thanks Karan69. The new 773ERs are capable of doing JFK/ORD-DEL/BOM. It may be that AI is receiving 772LRs first and 773ERs later. If so, then start 772LRs with JFK/EWR to BOM and ORD-BOM(Max 10 flights per week with three 772LRs) and switch to 773ERs when delivered and then utilize 772LRs for SFO/SJC-BLR and LAX-BOM.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31117 posts, RR: 74 Reply 8, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7610 times:
Quoting LAXDESI (Thread starter): The proposed non-stop flights from India to the US will do away with the UK visa requirements for US passengers, though they are not stopping in London.
Kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8435 posts, RR: 15 Reply 9, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7590 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 8): Quoting LAXDESI (Thread starter):
The proposed non-stop flights from India to the US will do away with the UK visa requirements for US passengers, though they are not stopping in London.
Huh? Americans don't need visas to visit the UK.
I think it was meant to say :
The proposed non-stop flights from India to the US will do away with the UK visa requirements for US-bound Indian passengers, though they are not stopping in London
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
CRGsFuture From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 536 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7571 times:
Does AI not run a direct 744 from JFK to DEL due to it would have to have a lot of restrictions or it just simply couldn't make it with or without restrictions?
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CRGsFuture From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 536 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7529 times:
So a 744 can make the trip without a lot of restrictions?
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Humberside From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2005, 4901 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7511 times:
Does this mean AI will drop LHR-JFK or could they still fly this alongside non stop USA flights?
Karan69 From India, joined Oct 2004, 2782 posts, RR: 19 Reply 14, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7511 times:
Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 7): Thanks Karan69. The new 773ERs are capable of doing JFK/ORD-DEL/BOM. It may be that AI is receiving 772LRs first and 773ERs later. If so, then start 772LRs with JFK/EWR to BOM and ORD-BOM(Max 10 flights per week with three 772LRs) and switch to 773ERs when delivered and then utilize 772LRs for SFO/SJC-BLR and LAX-BOM.
Nov 2006 aircraft delivery will be a 77W.
IMO with 3 77Ws and 3 772LRs there is not much you can do, initially atleast, as the 77W will directly replace the KE 744 leased aircrafts which would have ended their lease agreements by 2007.
As for the 772 LRs, i bet they will launch a BOM/DEL-NYC flight daily as NY market is always a safe bet to fly into---full of Indians--both high and low yielding.
One 777 [not sure 300ER or 200LR] is expected in the end of 2007--so effectively AI will have only 5 owned 777s by 2007 end.
EWROwznj00 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 7418 times:
Quoting Humberside (Reply 13): Does this mean AI will drop LHR-JFK or could they still fly this alongside non stop USA flights?
I guess it depends on where they decide to send the non stops. The JFK flight orginates in Mumbai, then flies to Delhi, London, and then New York(or has that changed?). So, they could follow Singapore Airlines example, and deploy non-stops to Newark, and keep JFK as a one-stop flight between the US and India. I'm guessing the loads and yeilds on JFK-LHR are pretty good, so I don't see why that would be abandoned.
N79969 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 7176 times:
It makes sense as an eventuality. They probably need to get into an alliance sooner rather than later to make sure they are not overly disadvantaged in terms of feed.
Gr8Circle From Canada, joined Dec 2005, 2986 posts, RR: 4 Reply 21, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 7103 times:
A direct BOM or DEL flight to JFK / ORD would be great....would the flight be around 16 - 17 hours or so? A real boon for US bound pax who have to spend long hours connecting at CDG/LHR/FRA today....
However, that said, I personally hate the thought of flying those loooong non-stops...maybe we would get better deals on Euro connections once AI, CO, AA and others begin point to point direct flights to all major Indian cities...
Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 22, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 7069 times:
Quoting Jacobin777 (Reply 6):
BOM would be better served, as there would be no competition (thus killing yields) on those routes.....with AA and CO serving ORD/EWR-DEL anyway, it wouldn't make any sense to serve DEL from those cities...
now if AI was smart, they would start services from SJC (not SFO) and LAX to DEL nonstop...
Quoting Gr8Circle (Reply 21): DEL flight to JFK / ORD would be great
I dont think that would be the best for yields...
the flight is around 14-14 1/2 hours...
ok..maybe they can serve SFO if they need more runway space, but SJC would be more convenient to the local desi population...
Toxtethogrady From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 938 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 6911 times:
agree with you, basically it is fatigue and nobody is in a position to believe anything till officially announced.
rgds
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ala re ala, VT-ALA ala
25 Kaitak744: If they start those routes, they will probably start them with one stop service and then move on to non-stop (if successfull). With 8 777-200LRs, the
26 AA87: AI global carrier, long history and now will join the elite with longest non-stops in the world. Time for a serious makeover, their triples deserve bo
27 AS739X: I see know reason why SJC is better for AI then SFO. The majority of the population of Indians are in the east bay, not that far from SFO. No to menti
28 Jacobin777: actually, SJC is just as easy to get to from East Bay (880 straight down) as SFO is. Not to mention, the desi population is huge in the San Jose, Sun
29 Karan69: It will be interesting to see where AI will stand by 2012 when all 68 aircrafts are delivered. As i said earlier initially they will start BOM/DEL-JF
30 FlyDreamliner: I think the Worldliner, and aircraft like it will eventually come to change the way global air travel works. smaller, point to point flights to anywhe
31 AirIndia: I am sure they had that in mind while planning for the fleet acquisition. Karan, in 2012 apart form the 68 new a/cs how many 744s will be service wor
34 Dreamflight767: Have to agree with the % you gave AS739X, maybe even less. SJC doesn't have what it takes to attract a major international carrier like AI. So far, A
35 HAWK21M: Will do as long as its not named after a politician regds MEL
36 AussieItaliano: I'd rather WALK than take 880 South anyday. It's an absolute nightmare. That aside, there's no way that AI would pick SJC over SFO. Other internation
37 Jacobin777: when I lived in The Marina District, I would take the #30 Muni to Powell/Market St. then BART from Powell St. stop to SFO...u're correct, its very co
38 Sammyk: No need to have something flashy when you already have something classy. I think the Palace livery suits these "prestige" flights more than some gene
39 Sammyk: I read somewhere that they will put ads on the tails in the future. Not sure if they meant under the tail like Deccan, or on the tail itself. Hope it
40 StarGoldLHR: I would imagine AI's LHR-JFK will be dropped or code-shared to another airline. LHR-JFK with AI is the cheapest method of crossing the atlantic curren
41 Himmat01: I don't think AI would ever drop the LHR-JFK flights. It has been operating this route since 1962. It is after all one of the very few airlines autho
42 Nimish: Not another AI obsession with BOM/DEL! Come on AI - wake up - there's more to the world that BOM and NYC. Well - the only thing I can hope for is that
43 Atmx2000: Maybe once they get more planes they will be willing to take such risks. Perhaps the 787 will be something that would be deployed on such routes.
44 Jacobin777: i thought of that too...but I see it highly unlikely...... doesn't seem like SJC will ever get to a "good" 2nd-level international gateway like EWR i
45 Desh: non-Americans do -and its a pain to get a visa (go to the consulate - fill out forms - etc etc ) I think one would spend more time getting the transi
46 Slovacek747: AS739X... You need to recheck your stats... the two runways at SJC are only 870 feet shorter than the longest one at SFO... At 11,000 ft, SJC can hand
47 Atmx2000: Well, if there is a market for transcontinental non-stops from SJC it seems India would be a prime candidate.
48 Karan69: Their oldest owned 747-400 will be 21 years old and the youngest one will be around 16 years old. So they should be in the fleet till 2018-2020 atlea
49 USADreamliner: Oh....dont' go there. Is like telling a child that Santa is not real...lol Does AI have good loads from Europe to USA? USADreamliner
50 Jacobin777: I assume you meant transpacific.... .but yes, I agree.....and that is why I felt AI should go to SJC...but I think we all know it ain't happening....
51 Atmx2000: Whoops. Actually, I was thinking intercontinental. Looking at the SJC timetable (http://www.sjc.org/flights/flights.pdf) I see that there is a nonsto
52 Sllevin: The operational issue would be "what to do with the plane?" There's not a lot of space around --just a couple of gates can take the 777 (and there's
53 Jacobin777: their SJC 777 service is to NRT...I love it when it occasionally flies over my house.. AA's SJC-NRT service started back in 1995 (DC-10 service), and
54 EFCar98: This is sort of an off topic, but when AI leased the 4 ex UA 777s, why did they get one A model vt-air (non ER) instead of all four ERs? Where do they
55 Jaysit: But the BOM-NY route is also the busiest India-US route with the highest yields. Of course, AI would serve this route with its latest and most advanc
56 Nimish: The rest of my post went on to add that the a/c freed up should at the least start serving the rest of the country as well. Not sure if you missed th
57 Mandargb: Hi, I agree with some folks about SFO v/s SJC stuff. Mostly AI would pick SFO if they have to get into bay area. (Pros are this is busiest #of of pass
58 USADreamliner: It would be great if AI could open new markets in USA, like IAH for example. There's a large community from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. I know PIA
60 Ourboeing: I thought they were adding IAD to their network. Or wasit just a rumor? OURBOEING
61 Jacobin777: I would disagree with you about the OAK thing......OAK is well out of the way for most who live in the silicon valley area......and perception, espec
62 DIJKKIJK: actually, they are the cheapest on the LHR-JFK sector. So they do get a decent load on that one. You can often fly that route on AI for GBP 200, and
63 Gr8Circle: Agree... but still, some people need to be told....
64 N1120A: Flown by the Sultan of Brunei and...??? B747-437B To NRT, not BOM or DEL. India is much longer of a flight
65 Lehpron: I could have sworn 772LR's they had the range to do New Dehli to San Fransisco...? Why no west coast non-stops, yet?
66 LH459: As I understand it, the non-ER airframe is used exclusively for service to the UK, whereas the others serve the UK and YYZ. I'm sure you meant "the o
67 BestWestern: Nobody (sensible) dreams of using AI from Heathrow to the states - they have the UK's worst punctuality. (right, who have I offended?)
68 Jasepl: There are, evidently, plenty of people who don't care for pesky little things such as punctuality and ground service! Who cares? A fact is a fact is
69 Jaysit: Expected. However, I wonder why their punctuality out of Heathrow is terrible. Is it because many of the Heathrow flights are routed via Delhi and it
70 Jacobin777: they do..........maybe that's what AI is looking into for SFO.... [quote=Jacobin777,reply=53] their SJC 777 service is to NRT...I love it when it occ
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