Air India Halts Direct Bengaluru, Mumbai-San Francisco Flights: Why Capacity

The national carrier Air India has announced a significant adjustment to its North American flight network.

Non-stop services connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai to San Francisco will be discontinued starting March 1. This move is part of a broader strategy to better manage capacity and address rising operational costs. The airline cited ongoing airspace restrictions and aircraft deployment challenges as primary factors.

Strategic Network Realignment

The Impact of Airspace Restrictions

The decision to suspend the Bengaluru-San Francisco and Mumbai-San Francisco routes is largely economic and operational. Airspace restrictions, primarily those related to the conflict in the Middle East, force longer flight paths. These detours increase fuel consumption and extend flight times. This directly leads to higher operational costs for the airline.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the changes. The airline is modifying its Air India North America schedule to manage these rising costs. The carrier also seeks to better deploy its available aircraft capacity.

Capacity Deployment Challenges

The airline's need for Air India capacity management is set against a challenging global backdrop. The aviation industry faces a worldwide aircraft shortage. Production bottlenecks at major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus are delaying new jet deliveries. Air India's CEO previously noted that this shortage could last four to five years.

This constraint forces airlines to be strategic about where they use their long-range aircraft. The CEO stated that carriers must be “ruthless” in deploying aircraft to maximize returns. The suspension of the Bengaluru Mumbai direct flights allows for better allocation of wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 777-300ER, on other key routes.

New North America Schedule Focus

To compensate for the loss of the Air India San Francisco flights from the two major tech hubs, the airline is bolstering its services from Delhi.

• Delhi-San Francisco: Services will increase from seven to ten flights per week.
• Delhi-Toronto: Flights to Toronto will also be scaled up to ten weekly services.

This expansion aims to absorb the displaced demand. It improves and expands overall connectivity to North America, albeit requiring a layover in Delhi for many passengers.

Critical Impact on Business and Tech Travellers

The withdrawal of non-stop US West Coast connectivity is a major concern for a specific passenger segment. Both Bengaluru and Mumbai are major centers for India's technology and business sectors. Professionals rely heavily on Bengaluru Mumbai direct flights to the US West Coast for time-sensitive travel. The new schedule will add significant travel time, impacting business efficiency.

Guidance for Affected Passengers

Passengers holding bookings for the affected routes beyond February 28 have expressed frustration online. Many booked months in advance to secure their travel plans.

Air India has outlined clear steps for affected passengers refund and re-accommodation:

• Passengers will be re-accommodated on alternative services.
• A full refund will be offered if re-accommodation is not suitable.
• Airline officials stated they would reach out directly to all affected flyers.

Looking ahead, the airline has indicated that the suspension is not permanent. Air India will seek to reinstate Bengaluru Mumbai direct flights to San Francisco should the airspace restrictions ease. This decision highlights the ongoing operational difficulties faced by global carriers in managing long-haul routes amidst geopolitical instability and global flight deployment challenges.