Air India flights set for further delay

Air India flights set for further delay
By admin


Air India’s much vaunted flights to Australia almost certainly won’t happen this year with March now thought the most optimistic launch date.

All parties have accepted that the carrier’s well publicised services to Sydney and Melbourne are extremely unlikely to take off this side of the new year.

While disappointing for the industry, few will be surprised at the further delay given the on-off history of the services.

The financially troubled airline announced back in 2010 that it would launch daily direct services between Delhi and Melbourne that year. The Victorian capital is still waiting.

It then emerged Air India was gearing up for direct Sydney and Melbourne services later this year using one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Again, no concrete schedules have ever materialised.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy told the Australasian Hotel Industry conference in Sydney this week that he regarded the launch of flights this year as unlikely, given the limited selling period Air India would have if flights were to start this year.

Stressing later to Travel Today that it was only his personal view, McEvoy predicted that a probable triangular service between Delhi, Sydney and Melbourne may launch in the first quarter, possibly March.

But airport officials remain sceptical, with McEvoy telling delegates they will believe flights will arrive “when they see planes land on the tarmac”.

A spokeswoman for Melbourne Airport said it would welcome flights but said there was no agreed timeframe.

“We look forward to the day it does happen,” she said.

Sydney Airport said discussions are continuing with Air India over the launch of services.

McEvoy said direct flights would give the market a “shot in the arm” but reiterated it would not be the “panacea”.

Several carriers already operate one-stop services from India through Asia which serves the markets well, he said.

But McEvoy added he was keen to see a direct codeshare service between Jet Airways and Qantas. The two carriers already codeshare through Singapore.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest News

  • Cruise Lines

Cruise Guru unveils Channel Nine cruise TV show featuring Ponant, Viking, NCL and more

Cruise Guru has unveiled “Your Next Cruise”, an immersive cruise TV show on Channel Nine in partnership with Australian media productions company, Proud Nomads. The first season consists of three 30-minute episodes featuring nine cruise lines – Ponant & Paul Gauguin Cruises, Viking Cruises, Coral Expeditions, Hurtigruten, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise […]

  • Famil
  • News

Explore Worldwide gives agents a chance to win an exclusive Sri Lanka famil

Adventure travel specialist Explore Worldwide has launched a new agent incentive. Travel agents can win a place on an exclusive eight-day famil trip to Sri Lanka—including 50 per cent off flights with Sri Lankan Airlines—when they book any Explore trip between 7 February and 21 March 2025. With 10 spots available, this incentive gives agents […]

  • Aviation
  • News

Heathrow Airport to upgrade operations as part of multi-billion-pound cash injection

Heathrow Airport is about to undergo a significant upgrade as it benefits from the largest investment programme in its history. The expansion plans, revealed yesterday UK time, involve expanding terminals 2 and 5, as well as adding a third runway. The multi-billion pound investment programme is 100 per cent privately funded. The plans are part […]

  • Events

AIME 2025 is underway!

If you're headed down to AIME we hope you brought your networking shoes because it's going to be big!

  • Events

IAAPA Expo Asia 2025 opens exhibitor registration

The IAAPA Expo Asia, the premier amusement industry trade show in the Asia-Pacific, has opened exhibitor registrations for its 2025 event on 30 June to 3 July in Shanghai. This international extravaganza showcases the newest technological advancements and innovative solutions in the attractions industry from more than 300 exhibitors, with over 10,000 attendees expected to […]