The airline resumed direct operations on Wednesday, November 4, on all four routes linking Delhi and Mumbai with New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
The move eliminates the stopover at Rome Fiumicino that had been introduced after the outbreak of the US-Iran war on February 28 disrupted flight operations across the region.
Journeys that previously took close to 20 hours can now be completed in approximately 15 to 16 hours.
Air India has been monitoring geopolitical developments and reassessing the safety of available flight corridors. The reduction in risk assessments for Iraq, Syria and Jordan has allowed the carrier to use a shorter routing through Iraqi airspace.
Iranian airspace remains unavailable to the airline, while Pakistan’s continued restrictions on Indian carriers have also contributed to longer flight paths and additional fuel requirements.
The reopening of the Iraqi corridor has nevertheless provided sufficient operational flexibility to remove the Rome stop on the four New York services.
Air India expects the nonstop flights to continue through November and December, although winter weather conditions could create further operational challenges.
Strong headwinds from January may require temporary fuel stops, particularly when passenger loads are high. Pilots have also highlighted continuing payload restrictions, as aircraft must carry additional fuel to compensate for longer routes caused by the closure of Pakistani airspace.
The airline is also hoping that Iranian airspace will eventually become accessible again, potentially allowing it to restore more direct services to destinations in Europe and North America.
The latest development offers in the meantime some relief to travelers between India and the United States.
