Air India Resumes Non-Stop Delhi-Rome Flights with Boeing 787-8 in March 2026.

December 26, 2025 at 04:47 AM•2 min read

Air India will resume non-stop Delhi-Rome (FCO) flights four times weekly starting March 25, 2026, using the Boeing 787-8, boosting its European network.

Key Points

1Air India will resume non-stop Delhi (DEL) to Rome (FCO) flights starting March 25, 2026, after a nearly six-year suspension.
2The service will operate four times weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) using the long-haul efficient Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
3The route is a strategic expansion, making Rome Air India's eighth mainland European destination and strengthening Delhi's hub role for connections to Southeast Asia.
4The resumption supports rising passenger demand and deepens economic and cultural ties between India and Italy, a major European trading partner.

Air India is set to resume its non-stop service between Delhi (DEL) and Rome (FCO). This highly anticipated route restarts on March 25, 2026. The move marks the airline’s official return to the Italian capital. Service to Rome had been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic. This resumption provides a major boost to the airline’s European network.

Strategic Network Expansion

Air India will operate the Delhi Fiumicino direct service four times weekly. Flights will run every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. This timing is perfect for the 2026 spring and summer travel seasons. Rome will become the eighth mainland European destination for the carrier. This expansion reinforces Air India's commitment to global connectivity.

Connectivity and Market Growth

The new service offers seamless connectivity between India and Italy. It also supports growing demand across key traffic segments. Italy is one of India's largest trading partners in Europe. Passenger traffic between the nations continues to rise. This growth is supported by a large Indian diaspora in Italy. Indian travelers also show increasing interest in Italy's culture.

Travellers from Italy gain direct access to the Indian capital. They also get seamless onward connections via the Delhi hub. This hub links to destinations across the Indian Subcontinent and India to Southeast Asia connections. Popular onward cities include Bangkok, Singapore, and Manila. This strengthens Delhi’s position as a major global gateway.

Aircraft and Passenger Experience

Air India will deploy the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner service on this route. The Boeing 787-8 is known for its long-haul efficiency. The aircraft features a two-class configuration. This includes 18 flat beds in Business Class. There are also 238 seats available in Economy Class. This configuration aims to provide comfort and convenience.

Industry Context

This route resumption aligns with broader market trends. India is now the world's third-largest civil aviation market. This is based on data as of June 2024. The international air travel market is showing strong recovery. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), premium travel is also rebounding globally. Air India is the largest carrier by international passenger traffic from India. This position makes the Air India Delhi Rome flights a strategic move. The new service addresses a growing demand for direct long-haul travel. For more commercial aviation news and analysis, visit flying.flights.