Student rush: AI doubling flights to US from Aug 7

Student rush: AI doubling flights to US from Aug 7

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:30.07.2021

Air India is doubling its non-stop flights to the US from August 7 as a large number of Indians head to universities there this fall.

It had reduced the number of weekly flights from about 40 to under 10 when the catastrophic second wave of Covid-19 here saw the US imposing restrictions on travellers from India starting May 4.

Now the airline will operate at least 21 flights per week to the US, with the maximum increase in flights to New York (JFK and Newark or EWR), followed by those to Chicago and San Francisco, say people in the know. United, the only other airline with nonstops between the two countries, is not altering India flight frequencies for now.

“Flights to the US had to be curtailed after the US presidential proclamation restricting air traffic from India. Flights were combined and rescheduled, affecting travel itineraries for some. Frequency to US has now been enhanced from August and all-out efforts to accommodate passengers are on,” Air India said on social media.

Before May 4, the air bubble requirement for a majority of travellers between India and the US to fly direct saw AI operating almost as many flights to America as it did in pre-pandemic times. The May 4 restrictions meant there were very few eligible to fly from here to the US and the reduced demand led to AI slashing flights.