In April American Airways introduced its newest ultra long haul service, set to launch between New York and Delhi as of October.

The airline appears to be fairly optimistic about this route — in June, American elevated frequencies out there to day by day year-round, and now the airline has upgraded the airplane on the route from a 777-200ER to a 777-300ER, at the least for the primary a number of months of service.

American Airways’ New York to Delhi service

As of October 31, 2021, American Airways will launch a brand new day by day year-round route between New York (JFK) and Delhi (DEL). This 7,318-mile flight will function with the next schedule:

AA292 New York to Delhi departing 8:10PM arriving 7:30PM (+1 day)
AA293 Delhi to New York departing 11:55PM arriving 6:30AM (+1 day)

The flight is blocked at 13hr50min eastbound and 16hr5min westbound. With the most recent gear improve:

• The flight shall be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER between October 31, 2021, and March 26, 2022
• The flight shall be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER as of March 27, 2022
• Since late March coincides with the beginning of the summer season schedule, it’s attainable that the airline simply hasn’t up to date the schedule but, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the bigger plane stick round, relying on how issues play out

Implications of American flying the 777-300ER to India

It’s attention-grabbing to see American Airways schedule the Boeing 777-300ER on the Delhi route, as that is the provider’s flagship plane, and the only long haul aircraft to feature first class. For context, right here’s how the configurations of the planes examine:

• The 777-300ER has 304 seats, together with eight first-class seats, 52 enterprise class seats, 28 premium economic system seats, and 216 economic system seats
• The 777-200ER has 273 seats, together with 37 enterprise class seats, 24 premium economic system seats, and 212 economic system seats

As you may see, the 777-300ER has 31 extra seats total, and that’s virtually fully premium seats, together with an incremental eight first-class seats, 15 enterprise class seats, and 4 premium economic system seats.

It stays to be seen whether or not premium demand to Delhi is definitely that sturdy with ahead bookings, or if American merely doesn’t have anyplace higher to fly these planes. American actually has some extra 777-300ERs, between Hong Kong being largely closed, and London not being anyplace near recovered.

American has in any other case been flying 777-300ERs largely between Los Angeles and Miami, so it looks like the chance value of flying the airplane to Delhi most likely isn’t that prime, particularly if cargo demand shall be sturdy. Whereas I perceive that that is traditionally when seasonal demand is strongest for India, in the meanwhile the United States has a travel ban against India, so I ponder whether the airline is banking on that being lifted, or simply being optimistic.

Sadly in the meanwhile I’m not seeing a lot saver degree award availability in first and enterprise class on this route, although I’m keeping track of it, as I’m certain that may change ultimately. In the meantime I do see fairly a little bit of improve availability, whether or not to first or enterprise class.

How India enlargement suits into American’s route community

American’s New York to Delhi route is being added due to the American and JetBlue strategic alliance in the Northeast. With this we’re seeing American expand into new long haul markets, whereas JetBlue supplies a lot of the regional feed for these flights.

That is the fifth new long haul route that American has announced out of New York prior to now a number of months, along with:

• A seasonal New York to Athens flight
• A year-round New York to Rio de Janeiro flight
• A year-round New York to Santiago flight
• A year-round New York to Tel Aviv flight

Larger image, in the case of American Airways’ India service:

Wanting on the total New York to India market:

• Air India operates to each Delhi and Mumbai
• United operates to each Delhi and Mumbai
• Delta launched a New York to Mumbai route in 2019, although it has since been suspended, and it’s anybody’s guess if/when it is going to be restored

By the best way, it’s fairly humorous to me that American claims to have “the quickest rising community from america to India.” This comes as American goes from zero to 2 routes. So sure, I suppose the expansion charge is so excessive right here that it could possibly’t even be calculated, although the declare does appear fairly disingenuous.

Backside line

American Airways will launch a brand new route between New York and Delhi, made attainable due to the brand new partnership between American and JetBlue. The airline had already elevated frequencies on this market to day by day, and is now additionally upgrading the flight to a 777-300ER for the primary a number of months of service.

We’re seeing American add vital lengthy haul service out of the New York space, which certain is cool to see. Particularly I’m enthusiastic about American’s enlargement to each India and Israel, each of which have been markets the place the airline didn’t beforehand have a presence.

I’m nonetheless undecided whether or not American’s technique of relying so closely on Alaska and JetBlue for its worldwide community is a great one, however I assume we’ll discover out over time.

What do you make of American Airways’ new path to Delhi?

(Tip of the hat to @IshrionA)