Air India has opened bookings for flights to the US under the Vande Bharat Mission. In total, 145 flights will operate between September 1st and October 24th from India to the US. The news comes as more airlines restart operations from India under the travel bubble agreement, challenging Air India’s market share.

US flights expand

Flights to North America have been a focus for Air India due to their high revenues. However, the entry of United and Air Canada recently has pushed the airline to cut down prices to remain competitive. The tactic seems to have worked, with Air India slightly upping its US schedule during Phase 6 of the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM).

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Air India 777
After a reduction in flights in July, Air India is expanding its schedule once again. Photo: MitRebuad via Flickr

After cuts in late July to thrice-weekly services on all routes, Phase 6 will see select routes operate five times a week. The new schedule is as follows:

  • AI 101 - Delhi to New York (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)
  • AI 103 - Delhi to Washington D.C. (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)
  • AI 127 - Delhi to Chicago (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
  • AI 173 - Delhi to San Francisco (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
  • AI 191 - Mumbai to Newark (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

Both Chicago and San Francisco have been upped to five times weekly, while other routes remain at the same frequency. While this is still lower than Air India’s ambitious July schedule, it does represent an improvement in traffic. Timings and domestic connections can be found here.

Air India is the only carrier providing direct connections to Chicago, putting it at a competitive advantage. The expected rise in traffic during the fall could be driving Air India to add more flights on key routes.

Travel bubbles

India is yet to reestablish scheduled international flights, relying on bilateral travel bubbles instead. A bubble with the US has already been signed, allowing Air India flights to continue functioning as normal, while United also flies out of India. Previously, Delta had applied for permission to operate its Mumbai to New York route. It’s unclear what is the current status of the request.

United Airlines
United Airlines is not yet flying a robust long-haul network with paying customers, but it will be launching new flights to India in December. Photo: Getty Images

Considering India’s success with travel bubbles, and the number of countries signing on, there is little incentive to start scheduled flights. The lack of scheduled flights is a boost to Air India too. With no East Asian carriers currently a part of the travel bubble, Air India has a monopoly on all routes to the region and flies a massive schedule on other routes.

Vande Bharat Phase 6

The new US schedule also marks the sixth phase of the Vande Bharat Mission, India’s repatriation operation. Operating since May, nearly 500,000 people have taken VBM flight to leave and return to India. A detailed schedule for Phase 6 is yet to be announced, but we do know of 30 flights to Canada and one to China, in addition to the US routes.

Delhi Airport Air India
International traffic recovery remains low amid global restrictions. Photo: Getty Images

With bidding for Air India coming to a close soon, and a new owner taking the reigns by January, could the VBM be coming to an end? It’s too early to predict the fate of VBM, but India will have to reopen its borders at some point in the future.

Would you fly Air India to the US? Have you taken a VBM flight? Let us know in the comments!