Over the past year, travel between India and North America has surged, showing a successful recovery from the pandemic that shuttered demand. The East Asian country has become among the top markets for travelers outside of North America, as more than 800,000 Indian travelers came to the US in the first six months of 2023. The trend continued as the US saw around 1.7 million total Indian visitors by the end of the year, making India emerge as the US’s fifth-largest source of tourists, according to the Times of India.
The number exceeded the National Travel and Tourism Office’s forecast of 1.4 million travelers, which was 97% of the pre-pandemic level. The overall statistic also represents an increased economic impact on the US. Skift reported that Indian travelers spent an average of $3,500 per trip, with California, New York, and Texas being ranked as the most visited states. With satisfactory numbers last year, some airlines serving the market have analyzed whether more US cities should have nonstop service to India.
Three airlines, four routes
Currently, there are just three North American-based carriers that fly nonstop to the country, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium:
- American Airlines
- Air Canada
- United Airlines
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With the Big Apple being a popular market and closer destination than that of their West Coast hubs, American and United offer nonstop service from the city’s two area airports. American flies from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and is utilizing its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft this month. At the same time, United serves DEL from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with its 787-9 Dreamliner. Unlike its US-based competitors, Air Canada flies nonstop to DEL from two hubs. The carrier is deploying its 787-9 from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and its 777-200LR from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) this month.
North American-Based Carriers With Nonstop Flights To India (April 2024) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airline |
Origin |
Destination |
Number Of Flights |
Equipment |
Number Of Seats |
Average Distance |
Air Canada |
Montréal–Trudeau International Airport |
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
13 |
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
3,874 |
7,017 miles |
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
Montréal–Trudeau International Airport |
13 |
3,874 |
|||
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) |
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
30 |
Boeing 777-200LR |
9,000 |
7,246 miles |
|
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) |
30 |
9,000 |
|||
American Airlines |
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
30 |
Boeing 777-300ER |
9,120 |
7,317 miles |
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
30 |
9,120 |
|||
United Airlines |
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) |
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
30 |
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
7,710 |
7,323 miles |
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) |
30 |
7,710 |
Inside the numbers
While only three airlines offer nonstop flights, plenty of seats are available this month despite the lack of daily frequencies on some routes.
American Airlines
American’s flagship 777-300ER seats 304 passengers in a three-class format. Flagship First has eight lie-flat beds with an impressive seat width of 21.5 inches. In Flagship Business, 52 seats also have lie-flat capability. The width is slightly smaller at 20.5 inches. The main cabin consists of premium economy, main cabin extra, and standard seats.
Photo: American Airlines
There are 28 premium economy recliner seats with a pitch of 38 inches and a width of 19 inches. Main cabin extra also has 28 seats, which have a seat pitch of 36 inches, but their width is smaller, ranging between 17.1 and 18.1 inches. The remainder of the main cabin comprises 188 standard seats with a pitch between 31 and 32 inches and a width between 16.2 and 17.1 inches.
All seats are equipped with a seatback screen for inflight entertainment and AC power outlets to keep devices charged. American has a total of 60 flights scheduled between JFK and DEL – 30 each way – representing more than 18,200 total seats offered.
Air Canada
Air Canada is only performing 26 total flights this month between YUL and DEL. At 13 flights in each direction on the 787-9, the carrier is offering nearly 7,750 seats on the route. Its 787-9s are configured to accommodate 298 passengers in a three-class format. In business class, there are 30 individual suites featuring fully lie-flat beds. Premium economy consists of 21 recliner seats with a pitch of 38 inches, a width of 19 inches, and a recline of 7 inches. In standard economy, there are 247 seats with a pitch of 31 inches, a width of 17 inches, and a recline of 5 inches.
Photo: Air Canada
AC power ports are available at every seat in business class and premium economy, while they can be found between seats in economy. Passengers can stay entertained with personal touch screens at every seat featuring an interactive moving map with flight information, TV shows, movies, games, and a seat-to-seat-chat amenity.
Between YYZ and DEL, Air Canada will operate 30 flights in each direction this month, totaling 60 flights. Its 777-200LR seats a total of 300 passengers in three classes. Air Canada Signature Class is equipped with 40 individual suites with lie-flat beds, premium economy has 24 recliner seats, and economy class comprises 236 standard seats. The inflight amenities are the same as those featured on the 787-9, except for the seat-to-seat chatting feature. With 60 flights this month, Air Canada has a total of 18,000 seats offered on the route.
United Airlines
United also has 60 flights scheduled between EWR and DEL. With its 787-9, the airline has 7,710 seats scheduled in each direction, totaling more than 15,400 seats on the route this month. Across three classes, the aircraft has a capacity of 257 passengers.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
United Polaris business class comprises 48 seats, each featuring six and a half feet of pitch as a sleeping space. There are 21 Premium Plus seats, which are recliner economy seats with 38 inches of pitch, six inches of recline, and 19 inches of width. The economy cabin consists of 39 economy plus seats with extra legroom and 149 standard seats.
Addressing the demand
With demand between India and North America on the rise, American has considered offering more flights to the country. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline postponed its planned service between Seattle and Bengaluru, telling Simple Flying in December that it had been paused “indefinitely.”
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
Operating its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the airline could succeed in nonstop flights to India. According to Asian Matters for America, Texas has the second-largest Indian American population in the US, with over 450,000 Indian Americans.
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