Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will resume its non-stop flight service from Mumbai to New York’s JFK, after a decade starting 24th December. The service was discontinued in this the route because of the stiff competition from the Gulf carriers and hasn’t flown to India since 2015.
Currently,
Indian national carrier Air India is the only domestic airlines
operating direct flight to JFK from Mumbai thrice-a-week between the two destinations.
The relaunched Mumbai-New York direct flight will take off from
Mumbai at 12.55 am on December 24 on a
newly renovated Boeing 777-200LR, with seatback entertainment throughout, Wi-Fi
connectivity and free mobile messaging.It will land at JFK airport 16 hours
later, Delta Air Lines said in a statement.
Roberto Ioriatti, Deltas vice president Transatlantic said “Deltas
return to India in time for the holiday season marks a milestone for the company
and it is opening up America for Indian-based business and leisure customers.
Connecting through New Yorks JFK, the Delta passengers have
access to more than 50 onward destinations across North America, Latin America
and the Caribbean, the airline said.
In the last decade the demand for flights between the US and
India has raised by 60 percent and New York is the largest US market to India
with the largest base of corporate customers, the airline further added.
As said by Jimmy
Eichelgruen, Delta’s Director Sales, Africa, Middle East and India, “New
York has the highest population of Indians for any American city and both New York and Mumbai are financial
capitals. ”
