Quotes:
The third route to be introduced later this year or early 2008 will link San Francisco, hub for Silicon Valley, with Bangalore, India's Silicon Plateau. This direct non-stop will muscle into a heavily trafficked route currently dominated by Lufthansa, whose flight via Frankfurt is dubbed the "Bangalore Express" because it shuttles techies between the two IT hubs.
Air India's chairman and managing director V Thulasidas told correspondents in Seattle on Friday that in due course, Air India would also introduce direct flights between Washington DC and New Delhi, and Chicago and Hyderabad. The airline is also examining linking other Indian cities such as Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kochi and appropriate US cities.
Asked why Air India should be introducing direct flights out of the New York area when US carriers already had a head start, Thulasidas said the New York hub was still the most lucrative one because of the heavy business travel. Air India currently has two flights a day to the area (to JFK and Newark Liberty, both with European layovers), and direct, non-stop flights would thrive on this growing traffic.
"Economics, not politics, goes into our decisions," Thulasidas said, when it was suggested that a Washington DC-New Delhi flight might have been more logical given the political significance of linking the two capitals and the governmental traffic, besides the existing competition from New York.
Air India's expansive plans to enhance its US operation, which brings in nearly 40 per cent of its international revenues, stems from the single largest order of planes in its history. An airline that has never ordered more than 6-8 planes at a time is now gearing up to take delivery of 68 planes worth more than $10 billion over the next few months. The order includes a mix of short-haul 737s, long range 777s and the newly introduced 787 Dreamliners.
"We want to bring back the glory days of Air India," said Thulasidas, echoing a sentiment that has often been thwarted by governmental interference and endemic sarkari sloth. "This time only economics matters, not politics."
FLYACYYZ From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1914 posts, RR: 12 Reply 1, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 5125 times:
What's in the works for AI's Canadian operation?? While they provide the quickest route between YYZ & ATQ, the 2-stop trek to DEL is painful. With so many other one-stop options (LH/SU/OS, etc), and with Jet Airways on the horizon, think they need to take a good look at their future plans. Needless to say, service ex YVR is long overdue and badly needed, but that topic has been discussed to death.
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4481 posts, RR: 43 Reply 2, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 5071 times:
So its going to be 1 daily BOM-JFK + 1 daily DEL-JFK + 1 daily BLR-SFO...thus 6 B 77Ls allocated already.
hmm...DEL-IAD should do ok too and I wont be surprised to see in the future a B 788 of 9W or AI fly nonstop from AMD to EWR.
But I have a serious concern with AIs B 77Ls...they only seat 238 pax in a 3 class layout and I find that too little. They have comprimised more seats in favor of more space in their premium cabin especially when historically their F class loads have been mainly filled with upgrades, pax getting favors, local employees etc instead of full fare paying passengers.
238 seats for a B 772LR is too little for me...yes I know AAs B 772ERs seat 245 etc but AA is in a different league to AI in terms of having a loyal customer base in the premium cabins which AI doesnt...9W does but AI doesnt!!!
9Ws B 773ERs seat 285 pax in a 3 class layout...ANAs seat 287 last time i checked...but in 4 classes.
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8787 posts, RR: 52 Reply 3, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 5060 times:
This will be an exciting route. I fly SEA-BLR every few years or so, and BA is the only one stop option, and they can be dreadfully expensive. Hopefully SFO-BLR will be an easy route to connect onto. Does anyone know what the 777-200LRs will be configured like?
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
Norcal773 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 1286 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 5035 times:
Say what? Thought San Jose was Silicon Valley's hub?
Quoting LAXDESI (Thread starter): An airline that has never ordered more than 6-8 planes at a time is now gearing up to take delivery of 68 planes worth more than $10 billion over the next few months.
Delivery of 68 planes 'in the next few months'? That must be a typo.
Quoting FLYACYYZ (Reply 1): 9Ws B 773ERs seat 285 pax in a 3 class layout...ANAs seat 287 last time i checked...but in 4 classes.
But the 77W is bigger than the 77L! FO-BLR is a long flight so space will come in handy.Personally, I'd fly the airline with more space in steerage on such a long route if price wasn't much different from the others.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26956 posts, RR: 83 Reply 5, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 5007 times:
Smart move. With AI joining Star, SFO will provide plenty of connecting traffic via UA. And UA could see a nice boost on SEA-SFO-SEA traffic since I imagine a number of folks here in "Silicon Forest" will prefer this routing vs. going via Europe.
FLYGUY767 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 4994 times:
Quoting Norcal773 (Reply 4): Say what? Thought San Jose was Silicon Valley's hub?
For all intents and purposes SFO is the de-facto international port of entry for the Bay Area market, which the Silicon Valley is a part of. Air India flying to San Jose would be a nightmare as far as marketing is concerned in India and abroad.
Norcal773 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 1286 posts, RR: 12 Reply 8, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 4926 times:
Quoting FLYGUY767 (Reply 6): For all intents and purposes SFO is the de-facto international port of entry for the Bay Area market, which the Silicon Valley is a part of. Air India flying to San Jose would be a nightmare as far as marketing is concerned in India and abroad.
You're right, I live in Sacramento and fly in and out of SFO everytime I gotta leave the country.
Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 7506 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 4912 times:
This is a very interesting route, at 8718 mi!!
The business cabin will be plenty full. AI is right to pursue PREMIUM demand that nonstops can own. Leave the cheap tickets to the likes of LH
Shane From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 180 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 4829 times:
Norcal773 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 1286 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 4805 times:
Quoting Shane (Reply 10): Quoting Stitch (Reply 5):
With AI joining Star
Is this confirmed? Voted by all Star members? A done deal? When will it happen?
That'd be awesome if they joined star, my preferred Aliance.
A little off topic but I think a lot of traffic between India and SFO transit through SIN. I flew SQ 16 SIN-SFO via ICN and it was a code share with AI. 3/4's of the pax on the plane were Indian.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26956 posts, RR: 83 Reply 12, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 4791 times:
Quoting Shane (Reply 10): Is this confirmed? Voted by all Star members? A done deal? When will it happen?
They reached agreement in 2006 to join, but then their merger with Indian Airlines put those plans on hold for the moment.
Jet Airways is also in talk with Star, so we should see two Indian carriers in the alliance soon.
FLYGUY767 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 4715 times:
Quoting Norcal773 (Reply 11): A little off topic but I think a lot of traffic between India and SFO transit through SIN. I flew SQ 16 SIN-SFO via ICN and it was a code share with AI. 3/4's of the pax on the plane were Indian.
I believe that Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific are the most heavy operators of SFO-India passenger's.
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4481 posts, RR: 43 Reply 15, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 4638 times:
Quoting Norcal773 (Reply 4): But the 77W is bigger than the 77L! FO-BLR is a long flight so space will come in handy.Personally, I'd fly the airline with more space in steerage on such a long route if price wasn't much different from the others.
I would hope to see AI switch to the B 773ER on the DEL/BOM-NYC nonstop flights once they get delivered and use the B 77Ls for less busy markets from India such as IAD, IAH & ORD and DEL/BOM-LAX / YVR / YYZ where the extra range of the B 77L comes more in handy than the capacity avbl on board.
BlrBird From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 577 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 4636 times:
Quoting LAXDESI (Thread starter): The third route to be introduced later this year or early 2008 will link San Francisco, hub for Silicon Valley, with Bangalore, India's Silicon Plateau.
may be they will start this route in IATA summer 08 when new BLR airport start its operations.
Norcal773 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 1286 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 4617 times:
Quoting FLYGUY767 (Reply 14): I believe that Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific are the most heavy operators of SFO-India passenger's.
HanginOut From Austria, joined May 2005, 545 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 4522 times:
Quoting Stitch (Reply 12): They reached agreement in 2006 to join, but then their merger with Indian Airlines put those plans on hold for the moment.
Jet Airways is also in talk with Star, so we should see two Indian carriers in the alliance soon.
That would be great! I really, really want Jet to join Star and was worried that they wouldn't with AI coming on board. I think that having both in Star would work fine (if the US can have two airlines in the alliance, why not India as well).
Bicoastal From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 4488 times:
Looks like UA's lack of aircraft is leaving them in the jet blast of other airlines again. If any airline should fly this route, it's United Airlines from their profitable SFO hub. But no new aircraft means ceding this potential goldmine route to others. But, hey, UA announced new nonstop service from Peoria to Denver on UAX! Whoa, baby, that's a prestigious route!
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8787 posts, RR: 52 Reply 21, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 4474 times:
Quoting Norcal773 (Reply 4): Say what? Thought San Jose was Silicon Valley's hub?
San Francisco definitely serves international traffic to the Silicon Valley. Its not the domestic hub, but for international service, it is definitely a hub.
Quoting FLYGUY767 (Reply 14): I believe that Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific are the most heavy operators of SFO-India passenger's.
I think LH probably carries the most. Together with their codeshare flights on UA (which they cooperate heavily with and share revenue) there are 4 flights to Germany from SFO. LH has the most number of flights to India from Europe. LH has lots of connectivity and probably leads the way, although SIN, BA and CX probably do have an important role.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
Nycaross From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 58 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 4462 times:
Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 23, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 4334 times:
Quoting Nycaross (Reply 22): Does SFO-BLR go via the Pacific or Atlantic?
Pacific
Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 21): Quoting Norcal773 (Reply 4):
Say what? Thought San Jose was Silicon Valley's hub?
San Francisco definitely serves international traffic to the Silicon Valley. Its not the domestic hub, but for international service, it is definitely a hub.
...too bad SJC's runway is too short, especially during the summer where it gets to be quite hot......the vast majority of Indians live in Sunnyvale, Fremont, Santa Clara, San Jose, etc.....which is a "hop-skip-and jump" away from SJC.....
Norcal773 From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 1286 posts, RR: 12 Reply 24, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 4083 times:
Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 21): San Francisco definitely serves international traffic to the Silicon Valley. Its not the domestic hub, but for international service, it is definitely a hub.
Tell that to Jacobin777
Quoting Jacobin777 (Reply 23): ....yah..yah..we know you like to brag about the fact you fly on SQ's B773ER's..
Who wouldn't? Beats the hell out of flying your silver maddogs to ORD.
Quoting Jacobin777 (Reply 23): ....I thought you like to fly out of your adopted airport of LAX
Naa, I am not a Norcal traitor like you are.
Quoting Jacobin777 (Reply 23): ........"Chew, Chew, Chew..rah, rah, rah"...get that camera of yours ready...time to spot @ SFO..
Call me when CX send their 773ER to SFO then I'll go spotting. I bet PR will send them there too, sooner or later. Let me know when they do coz that's when I;ll start flying them.
If you're going through hell, keep going
25 Jacobin777: ..hey now..you can't compare flying long-haul international to short-haul domestic..and given you fly UA/US domestic, we'll see what plane you fly on
26 RoseFlyer: Great Circle Mapper puts it as a Pacific route, but that could vary depending on winds. It could do a polar route in one direction and then come back
27 Norcal773: AA flew a 777 to NRT from SJC for a long time. JL recently landed a packed 744 there too. Don't blame SJC's short-comings on the aiport, it's a pissy
28 Jacobin777: It is the bloody airport...they don't do squat..all talk... ....SMF better? ....and I've flown AA's MASSIVES domestically also..not to mention, AA ha
29 Nimish: AI will need to offer a consistent & reliable service to get the better of the likes of LH. And LH (as someone else already posted). AF/KL also gets
30 Chiawei: I for one prefer to fly out of San Jose. SJC is only about 10 minutes away from my work. And about 15 minutes away from my house. I don't like to fly
31 Norcal773: Why is that? AF and KL fly to Europe direct from SFO. You said it right, 'dream'. Sacramento is an hour and a half from SFO but I prefer flying out o
32 Cricket: Anywhich way, this was a long scheduled flight and important connectivity for southern India, AI also beats IT to the punch. Mallya was desperate to s
33 Nimish: With AF to BLR - it's the flight timings. 15:55 (19 Jul) San Francisco International Apt Flight number - AF 083 11:25 (20 Jul) Paris Charles de Gaull
35 Mk777: Well I am hoping AI will start the DEL-IAD service soon (like around March 2008). Its about time an Indian carrier serves the washington dc metro area
36 Blrsea: Yup, it is the same with SEA-CDG-BLR. They need to change the flight timings similar to that of BA for better connectivity. I had sent feedback to AF
37 SFO777200LR: Think with Jet Airways and now AI operating from this part of the world to the Bay Area will put more pressure on Emirates to start service to SFO a l
38 Mnik101: Well SJC is trying to bring new international service, and it can handle the 777. So who knows maybe it will happen. one can always hope.
39 Jacobin777: ...runway is too short and conditions too hot during the summer....SFO will be the better choice....not to mention, there are no curfews @ SFO like t
40 Zamaria: I cannot imagine that there would be sufficient demand to link Kochi nonstop to an "appropriate" US city (though I would love to see it happen) - whi
41 Osprey88: You would be very, very surprised. Have you checked prices recently for all of the Bay Area Airports? SJC is constantly cheaper to domestic destinati
42 2travel2know: If the reason behind AI SFO-BLR flight is the traffic between BLR and specifically Silicon Valley (not the whole San Fransisco Bay Area), It would hav
43 FLYGUY767: A few things to remember, the flight is not based solely on BLR-SJC O/D. If that were the case I am sure they would have opted for SJC. There is I be
44 Boeing747_600: Only nominally. The great circle route w/o any wind correction skirts the polar cap and enters US airspace over Alaska coming down east of ANC. The f
45 Jacobin777: ...true, but I was basically being lazy and really didn't bother to differentiate.. ..read below... ..also, pax won't have a problem going up to SFO.
46 Boeing747_600: I would imagine that HYD and not BOM will be the diversion airport on SFO-BLR. How about BLR-SFO? Wouldn't SEA be the logical choice?
47 Blrsea: I think India already has negotiated overflight rights with Russia. If I remember right, there was some issue a couple of month earlier regarding ove
48 2travel2know: If the runway is not that long and the summers are hot, how did AA operate NRT flights out of SJC? Would the SJC curfews affect the use of that specif
49 Jacobin777: ..the SJC-NRT route is a lot less in length than SJC-BLR....to the tune of 3000nm... ..time curfews....midnight to 5:00 a.m. ..or is it 6:00..can't r
50 ConcordeBoy: Both of SJC's runways are only about 800ft shorter than SFO's longest, which wouldn't make that much difference to a high-MTOW 772LR.
51 Jacobin777: ..with SFO's year round cooler weather, I would assume there wouldn't be any load restrictions (at the very least, less restrictions), etc...either..
54 SFO777200LR: I think in terms of diversions, it really depends on the situation. If the situation causing the diversion arises prior to arriving in the Bay Area,
55 HanginOut: I'm sure they will, although some Air India insiders will have to verify this (it is unfathomable to me that they wouldn't have them). Also, I've nev
56 Shane: What's sad about it? What terminal do you suggest they use?
57 Boeing747_600: Good point! I suggest that my original post be deleted or the offending sentence redacted
58 MaverickM11: I believe this is the "let's start what Kingfisher publicly stated they wanted to fly before they are allowed to fly it by the government that also ha
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Beats the hell out of flying your silver maddogs to ORD. 
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