Among the “big three” US carriers, Delta is the only one that doesn’t presently serve India. The airline briefly served the country before the pandemic, but the service was abruptly discontinued. So, when could we see Delta make a return to the world’s most populous country? We now have some insights…
In this post:
Delta plans India flights with Airbus A350-1000
Thrifty Traveler attended an event in Minneapolis where Delta CEO Ed Bastian was speaking, and he answered questions across a variety of areas, as flagged by Live from a Lounge. One of the more interesting points involves Delta’s plans to return to India.
For context, Delta most recently launched service to India as of late 2019. Specifically, the airline flew from New York (JFK) to Mumbai (BOM) with Boeing 777-200LRs. However, that service lasted for all of several weeks, before it was pulled. Not only did the pandemic shut down global travel, but Delta also retired its Boeing 777 fleet, which was the plane capable of operating this route nonstop without taking any sort of a payload restriction.
Ever since, Delta executives have been talking about a possible return to India. So, what’s the current plan? According to the carrier’s CEO, India is a market that Delta wants to serve directly, and the plan is to resume flights there by 2026.
Delta’s plan is to fly there with the Airbus A350-1000, as the airline has 20 of these on order. The first is expected to join Delta’s fleet in late 2025. The A350-1000 is an amazing jet, in terms of unit costs and range, so it would be able to serve India nonstop from some points in the United States, without having to take any payload restrictions.
It remains to be seen what route Delta would operate to India. Will the airline resume its New York to Mumbai service? Or is a service more likely out of Atlanta, or to Delhi, this time? Prior to the 2019 service relaunch, Delta last flew to India from 2006 until 2009, out of Atlanta, but then claimed the service was no longer sustainable due to Middle Eastern carriers.
For context on service to India by the “big three” US carriers, Delhi (DEL) is served by American out of New York (JFK), by United out of Newark (EWR), and soon by United out of Chicago (ORD). Meanwhile Mumbai isn’t served by any US carrier at the moment, due in large part to US carriers no longer having access to Russian airspace.
Delta plans a partnership with India’s IndiGo
Delta’s CEO also indicated that the airline plans to announce a partnership soon, related to India. Specifically, Delta reportedly plans to partner with IndiGo, which is India’s largest airline. While IndiGo is a low cost carrier, the airline is making some updates to its business model, by introducing business class on some domestic flights, and by even ordering Airbus A350-900s.
Ultimately this partnership shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Air India belongs to Star Alliance, and will likely be a competitor to Delta between the United States and India. Meanwhile IndiGo is most willing to partner with other airlines, and similarly, American and IndiGo have a partnership.
Bottom line
Delta CEO Ed Bastian has reiterated plans for the airline to return to India in 2026, once the airline has Airbus A350-1000s in its fleet. There’s nothing terribly surprising here, though it is interesting to learn that an IndiGo partnership is also imminent.
Delta flew from New York to Mumbai for a few months up until the start of the pandemic, so I’m curious to see what route the airline chooses to operate this time.
Do you think Delta will return to India in 2026, and if so, in which market?
I heard Delta is starting MSP-BLR, DTW-GOI, SEA-CCU, AUS-COK and LAX-MAA, and they will all have 1,000,000% profit margins on the stretch A350-11000. Delta is the best airline that will ever fly!
Could try other routes such as Kolkata to prevent competition with other airlines that mainly serve Delhi and Mumbai
Kolkata doesn't even have sufficient demand to justify London service in the current market. There's not a chance that a US carrier, especially one as conservative about long-hauls as Delta, would fly there.
Too little too late ! Both Air India is firing on all cylinders and currently operates non-stop flights out of JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO & IAD with more planned out of LAX, SEA and DFW in the coming months, all on brand new A350s, with mostly new inflight personnel and connect to 3 different airports within India - DEL, BOM & BLR. Not only will it make it difficult for the likes of American, Delta...
Too little too late ! Both Air India is firing on all cylinders and currently operates non-stop flights out of JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO & IAD with more planned out of LAX, SEA and DFW in the coming months, all on brand new A350s, with mostly new inflight personnel and connect to 3 different airports within India - DEL, BOM & BLR. Not only will it make it difficult for the likes of American, Delta and United, it will pose a formidable challenge to the market leaders in that market namely Emirates, Etihad and Qatar. So I don't see Delta making much of an inroad into what is unarguably the fastest growing aviation market in the world ! Delta post pandemic pivoted to serving the domestic market and frankly that I'd where it's strength lies. I have flown Delta several times across the Atlantic to Europ and it frankly sucks. I can only imagine how painful a 15 hr non-stop flight to DEL or BOM could be !
I wonder if we'll see any SEA to India flying?
It's one of the largest unserved Asia market from SEA, with a huge local population from the tech industry.
Even AA was considering during their failed AA longhaul run at SEA, so there's got to be some merit to it.
Currently everyone is forced into one-stops or mroe via YVR or SFO. I can imagine the US-India being very lucrative considering how upmarket the...
I wonder if we'll see any SEA to India flying?
It's one of the largest unserved Asia market from SEA, with a huge local population from the tech industry.
Even AA was considering during their failed AA longhaul run at SEA, so there's got to be some merit to it.
Currently everyone is forced into one-stops or mroe via YVR or SFO. I can imagine the US-India being very lucrative considering how upmarket the Indian demographic is in tech, even if they India yields themselves may not be too high.
DL has long had a preference for BOM over DEL in part because of the financial services connection.
JFK-BOM via Egypt and the Gulf to avoid Russia airspace is about 8300 miles.
SEA-BOM over the Pacific avoiding Russia airspace is about 9100 miles... possible but long.
As for SEA as a whole, it is certain that DL will add more international from SEA as well as LAX.
JFK-BLR is more likely, IMHO, than SEA to India.
SFO alone accounts for nearly 19% of the USA-BLR market, per 2023. Add SJC and SEA, and you're at more than a quarter.
If they ever serve BLR (doubtful), then it's difficult to envision them essentially forfeiting 1 out of every 4 passengers that go there, when they have a hub at the 3rd largest originating gateway, that's positioned for easy connections to the 1st.
Would absolutely love ATL-BOM or ATL-BLR. Please.
some production lists for the A350 show a DL A350-1000 that should come off the assembly line in early to mid 2025. It is possible the list is wrong but it is possible that DL is moving forward some of the A350-1000 delivery positions. It does not seem likely that Airbus or DL would need 6 months or more after the first -1000 rolls off the assembly line to put it into service.
It...
some production lists for the A350 show a DL A350-1000 that should come off the assembly line in early to mid 2025. It is possible the list is wrong but it is possible that DL is moving forward some of the A350-1000 delivery positions. It does not seem likely that Airbus or DL would need 6 months or more after the first -1000 rolls off the assembly line to put it into service.
It also seems a little unusual to start talking about what the -1000 will do more than 18 months in advance of entering service.
It’s been rumoured that DL have taken over the 2 options that VS cancelled back in August.
The article says that DL will have its first -1000s by late "next year" which is 2025, earlier than originally stated when the -1000s were ordered. It is possible that DL could start some of these routes with -900s and then switch to -1000s in the winter when flight times are longer. I would bet that DL will quickly ramp up the -1000 fleet to a fairly decent size by the summer of 2026. ULH...
The article says that DL will have its first -1000s by late "next year" which is 2025, earlier than originally stated when the -1000s were ordered. It is possible that DL could start some of these routes with -900s and then switch to -1000s in the winter when flight times are longer. I would bet that DL will quickly ramp up the -1000 fleet to a fairly decent size by the summer of 2026. ULH routes need 2 planes per route or 3 if paired w/ something going in the opposite direction.
the -1000 will be able to carry much more cargo than the -900; DL has said that growing its cargo business is a major focus but the current fleet of early generation -900s has had a hard time doing that.
I think starting from Dallas would be great
Dallas to Mumbai or Delhi connecting with indigo to Hyderabad Bangalore Cochin
Will be a great asset. Only Emirates’s and Qatar is flying out of Dallas.
It will be great try out if Dallas to Mumbai
Or Delhi connecting flight to cochin Trivandrum Bangalore Hyderabad etc
Highly unlikely since Dallas isn't a Delta Hub, Dallas is an American Airlines hub.
As I have said, Delta will be rapidly growing and regrowing its international route system. They also said they would use the -1000 to grow "deeper into Asia" as well as add RUH on Delta metal.
As for India, the chances are high that DL will add JFK-BOM and add DEL from another gateway besides NYC - likely ATL.
The A350 is simply a much more capable aircraft than the 787; Russian airspace...
As I have said, Delta will be rapidly growing and regrowing its international route system. They also said they would use the -1000 to grow "deeper into Asia" as well as add RUH on Delta metal.
As for India, the chances are high that DL will add JFK-BOM and add DEL from another gateway besides NYC - likely ATL.
The A350 is simply a much more capable aircraft than the 787; Russian airspace restrictions aren't going away any time soon so DL is going to use the full capabilities of either version of the A350 to serve more of the Eastern US - where DL is stronger - to serve routes that the 787 cannot serve.
The superior economics of the A350-1000 are necessary to win in India given that Indian and Gulf airlines will and do aggressively price.
I actually agree with this assessment on route choice. AA and UA's inventory restricts them from flying BOM, while making DEL possible with several restrictions given the Russian airspace restrictions. While DL would be able to serve both with A35K, its advantage flying to BOM where yields are generally less of a problem would be more distinct.
The only thing that's net new now is there's no Jet Airways in the fray, which was...
I actually agree with this assessment on route choice. AA and UA's inventory restricts them from flying BOM, while making DEL possible with several restrictions given the Russian airspace restrictions. While DL would be able to serve both with A35K, its advantage flying to BOM where yields are generally less of a problem would be more distinct.
The only thing that's net new now is there's no Jet Airways in the fray, which was great for providing feed traffic the last time around. Indigo is strong in BOM but it's even stronger in DEL, which on the other hand is a more crowded market.
Crap plane to a crap operator. How appropriate for the disgusting Delta.
Hope this will be out of ATL rather than NYC to open up a new route. NYC-DEL in particular is very well served between AA and UA
Also, IndiGo having a partnership with both AA and DL simultaneously would be unique :P
Not really. American has a partnership with both Qatar and Etihad.
Nothing new. Even going back, Emirates had a partnership with both Continental and Delta. Air France also had a partnership with both Continental and Delta. Singapore had a partnership with United, USAirways, and Delta all at the same time, from the 1990s through the early 2000s.
It's really nothing new.
Are you sure UA is still planning on resuming ORD-DEL soon? Looks like there are flights loaded as of 3/29/25, but they're all zeroed out...
This would be good… I fly to India once/quarter and used to take AF but AF on this particular route has a very basic business class service in both direction and the older 2/2/2 seats. So lately I have been combining it with other trips and fly via Singapore.
I also heard rumors that TK is coming to my home airport… if that happens, then TK is the way to go!!
TK sucks. I’ll never fly with them again.
I don't know. Mayor Adams really seems to enjoy TK. If you're willing to inquire about the ability to fly JFK-IST-IPC, the experience must be decent. Of course he wasn't really paying for those upgrades...
2026 LOL.