In 12 months until October 2023, Air India facilitated the travel of 1.11 million passengers to and from the United States, according to the latest available data from the US Department of Transportation T-100. Daily, approximately 3,000 individuals embarked on flights, with a total of 1.29 million seats offered for sale, achieving an average seat occupancy of 86 out of 100.
Nine Direct Routes
Examining the data for each of the nine routes reveals the passenger count, seats available for purchase, and the seat load factor (SLF). It’s crucial to note that SLF, while significant, should not be assessed in isolation from yields and overall traffic considerations.
The passenger count includes all individuals on board, whether they engaged in point-to-point travel exclusively between the two airports or were part of connected flights to or from other destinations.
Additional context is essential. Air India initiated the Bengaluru-San Francisco route in the pandemic-affected month of January 2021, operating on a notably low-frequency basis until March 2022. Resuming on a three-weekly schedule in December 2022, between then and October 2023 – not a full year – Air India transported 66,000 passengers on its non-stop flights.
Remarkably, Air India achieved an impressive 93% seat occupancy, surpassing its average of 86% in the United States. While fare and yield analysis is not provided, the robust demand nature suggests positive outcomes. Considering the extensive distance covered (8,701 miles, 14,003 km), a strong financial performance was undoubtedly imperative.
In December 2022, Air India commenced the San Francisco to Mumbai route, its second-longest non-stop route globally, initially offering three weekly flights, later increased to four.
The Star Alliance member initiated the Mumbai-JFK route in December 2018, ceasing operations in March 2020, and resuming in February 2023. Despite figures only accounting for three quarters of a year, the daily 777-200LR service secured its position as the fourth-largest route by passenger count.
Delving into Delhi-JFK
Data from the US Department of Transportation reveals that Air India transported 209,000 passengers on its daily non-stop 777-300ER-operated Delhi-JFK service. Typically, 286 of the available 342 seats were occupied, resulting in a non-seasonalized average SLF of approximately 84%.
Among all carriers, Air India held the majority, accounting for about 37% of the market share for Delhi-JFK passengers. A breakdown of passenger destinations indicates:
- 48% of Air India’s passengers travelled Delhi-JFK-Delhi
- 37% originated/terminated at JFK and transited in Delhi (JFK-Delhi-Hyderabad led the way)
- 10% transited to other flights in JFK and Delhi (Detroit-JFK-Delhi-Hyderabad was prominent)
- 5% originated/terminated in Delhi and connected to other flights in JFK (Detroit-Delhi was the top choice)
Anticipating announcements for Dallas, Los Angeles, and Seattle, we invite you to share your preferences for Air India’s future destinations in the comments section.
