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 love ur writing but just some tiny corrections, as I flew it as purser and non-purser:
-Dl flew it from 2006 until fall of 2008. The 777ER was the original a/c until 2008 when the LR came onto property. ATL took the route the fall of 2008 roughly the month the terrible siege happened.
- DL restarted BOM in roughly Jan of 2020, not 2019; COVID came, the route was pulled and...
I love ur writing but just some tiny corrections, as I flew it as purser and non-purser:
-Dl flew it from 2006 until fall of 2008. The 777ER was the original a/c until 2008 when the LR came onto property. ATL took the route the fall of 2008 roughly the month the terrible siege happened.
- DL restarted BOM in roughly Jan of 2020, not 2019; COVID came, the route was pulled and the 777s were out of the fleet very quickly. The 777-LR was a beautiful airplane!
I read your articles often and thx for all you do to keep folks in the know about the airline industry!
I think ATL-DEL or ATL-BOM will be likely. ATL has a huge Indian population and Delta can get many people to connect there. I'd like to see them try SEA-BLR though. If they can time connections well with SJC and get deals with tech companies they should have no problem filling Delta One. There is more than enough economy demand too both from Seattle and the rest of the US who will take a 1 stop to BLR
Delta can introduce flight from Boston to Delhi or Boston to Chennai! Lot of Indian are living in Boston.
Would love to see more flights to either Bombay, Bangalore, Madras, or Hyderabad. No disrespect to Delhi, but India needs more routes to other parts of the country.
They can "need it" all they want, but if they cannot produce the yield to sustain it, then no airline has any reason to care.
Yields to Bengaluru are much better than the yields to Delhi. Bengaluru leads all of India in premium demand, last minute travel, and corporate bookings. Delhi has the volume advantage much of which can be attributed to Government travel, Punjab VFR plus the longevity and consistency of flights out of the airport. Governments have heavily favored Delhi in aviation agreements with other countries.
Oh BLR can produce the yield to sustain it. Its just now BLR is too far south to fly to with the Russian Airspace closures. Lufthansa flies a 747-8i from FRA-BLR, A350-900 from Munich, Emirates flies 1 A380 and 2 777's a day to BLR and all the other major European airlines fly a widebody there mostly filled with Americans connecting. These flights are almost always full (and even if economy has a few seats...
Oh BLR can produce the yield to sustain it. Its just now BLR is too far south to fly to with the Russian Airspace closures. Lufthansa flies a 747-8i from FRA-BLR, A350-900 from Munich, Emirates flies 1 A380 and 2 777's a day to BLR and all the other major European airlines fly a widebody there mostly filled with Americans connecting. These flights are almost always full (and even if economy has a few seats Business Class has never had an empty seat that I've seen) due to BLR being the Silicon Valley of India
You seem to be confusing yield with volume. Looking less than 30 days out, and seeing roundtrip biz fares on Virgin and Air France from JFK to Bangalore for under $2700, including tax, with two of the middle east 3, not far behind. That doesn't exactly scream "bringing the yield," even with stimulation by a nonstop, and especially since it basically forfeits two of the 3 largest US markets to Bangalore as well.
@ImmortalSynn - Where are you seeing the round trip $2700 fare from JFK-BLR? If you looked at the Google fares, kindly click on the fare ($2710 to be precise) and then price out the entire round trip. Also, this one-way price is only available for a couple of days in a 2-month period. JFK-BLR is still more expensive than JFK-DEL on any given day. Yields to BLR are as good as they get in India. Anyone with access to fare data can tell you that.
Air New Zealand also has plans to strengthen its outreach in India. I’m a shareholder of Air NZ and during last week’s annual shareholders’ meeting, I asked the CEO Greg Foran about the plans to fly non-stop to India. To which he answered with, “Our flights to Singapore have about 25% of the traffic which then diverts over to multiple cities of India. Primarily Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore but also elsewhere. We are working on...
Air New Zealand also has plans to strengthen its outreach in India. I’m a shareholder of Air NZ and during last week’s annual shareholders’ meeting, I asked the CEO Greg Foran about the plans to fly non-stop to India. To which he answered with, “Our flights to Singapore have about 25% of the traffic which then diverts over to multiple cities of India. Primarily Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore but also elsewhere. We are working on to make codeshare agreement work with our Star Alliance partner - Air India. We will soon announce the details so watch the space.” Happy to forward the videos to you so you can articulate more in your article.
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!
dear faker,
the irony, of course, is that AA had an A350 order and cancelled it.
UA still has an A350 order but have pushed it back indefinitely.
The A350-900 entered service as a 772ER replacement but it is now comparable in range to the 777-200LR.
The A350-1000 is a much more efficient replacement to the 777-300ER.
And if Rolls Royce comes up w/ a New Engine Option or something similar, sales should keep going up for another 20 years.
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 !
most foreign carriers are perceived to have better service than US carriers but US carriers still manage to get more than 50% of the revenue on int'l flights to/from the US.
US carriers have access to the US domestic market which is the richest market in the world while they win the majority of business travel revenue.
Russian airspace restrictions skew the market and the US doesn't push back because the US and India...
most foreign carriers are perceived to have better service than US carriers but US carriers still manage to get more than 50% of the revenue on int'l flights to/from the US.
US carriers have access to the US domestic market which is the richest market in the world while they win the majority of business travel revenue.
Russian airspace restrictions skew the market and the US doesn't push back because the US and India have Open Skies.
The real question is whether AA or UA decide to go for a joint venture with an Indian carrier - or DL itself does so - esp. if DL really does start adding multiple routes to India.
UA used to have a decent portfolio of India routes but has been reduced to EWR-DEL, paralleling AA's JFK-DEL.
UA tried to fly 2 daylight EWR-DEL RTs and it apparently didn't do very well and has been pulled.
If DL operates multiple routes including with the A350-1000, DL quickly becomes the largest player in the US - India market.
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.
the cost to operate the route and where the rest of the traffic comes from is part of the calculation.
I wouldn't rule out JFK-BLR in the future but that is a ways down the road.
Again, the fact that DL can even talk about doing it while AA and UA can't changes the calculus quite a bit.
"the fact that DL can even talk about doing it while AA and UA can't changes the calculus quite a bit."
Except in reality, the opposite is currently true. American and United are actually FLYING to India now, and have strong middle eastern partners FLYING the thinner Indian connections. Delta is TALKING about flying to India years down the road, and TALKING about all the wonderful things it's going to do with a middle eastern partner that doesn't yet even exist.
AA and UA can fly precisely one route - NYC to DEL.
The chances are that they don't do terribly well... the 787 in a premium configuration is one of the smallest aircraft in international service.
AA flew the 77W in a very light configuration for that model and decided it didn't work.
SO, no, the metric is not simply whether an airline flies a route but whether they make money doing...
AA and UA can fly precisely one route - NYC to DEL.
The chances are that they don't do terribly well... the 787 in a premium configuration is one of the smallest aircraft in international service.
AA flew the 77W in a very light configuration for that model and decided it didn't work.
SO, no, the metric is not simply whether an airline flies a route but whether they make money doing so. Airlines are famous for doing things that don't make money and holding onto routes for prestige. Both AA and UA's service pre-dated the Ukraine war (or AA's attempt to start it anyway) and they pressed forward not to cave to the pressure.
We don't know what kind of profits airlines make on any route but we do know whether they can operationally make other routes work.
The A350 in either model is simply a more capable aircraft than any 787. DL had none of the most capable versions until recently and are following up on a dozen plus more of those very capable A350-900s with 20 A350-1000s.
DL will simply be able to do more around the world than AA or UA.
The fact that DL waited to get the right aircraft doesn't change whether they will go.
"AA and UA can fly precisely one route - NYC to DEL."
Both being precisely one MORE Indian route than Delta is currently doing, or has ever in its entire history been able to maintain.
Perhaps that can change, maybe it will. But no amount of what speculation about might happen years into the future, changes the fact that they're both doing and sustain now, what Delta isn't and possibly can't.
I expect we will see two or more DL flights to India in a few years. Delta plays the long game and has said multiple times they were waiting for the right aircraft.
With the arrival of the A350-1000s potentially in a year, it is reasonable for DL execs to start talking about new routes.
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.
which of the two ORD-basing airlines do you work for?
The A350 has established itself as the best ultra long haul airline in the world.
Wider and more comfortable than the 787 and with far more capability at better costs.
If the 787 can fly 17 plus hour flights at all, it will be with less than 250 seats. The A350-1000 for DL should carry at least 330 passengers and potentially more.
...
which of the two ORD-basing airlines do you work for?
The A350 has established itself as the best ultra long haul airline in the world.
Wider and more comfortable than the 787 and with far more capability at better costs.
If the 787 can fly 17 plus hour flights at all, it will be with less than 250 seats. The A350-1000 for DL should carry at least 330 passengers and potentially more.
An additional 75+ passengers and more cargo makes the plane an economic game changer for ULH flying.
And Boeing has no plane that can match it until at least the 777-8 arrives which is very likely 5 years or more down the road.
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.