Ed Bastian, the CEO Delta Air Lines, gets candid during a roundtable discussion with local business leaders in Minneapolis discussing the carrier’s plans to welcome new airplanes. These planes would allow it to resume services to places like India as the carrier hasn’t flown back in the last few years.
Delta Air lines Ultra-long-haul flights with the new Airbus A350-1000
At a recent roundtable discussion, Delta Air Lines CEO discussed the carrier’s plans to start on several long-haul route services once the new long-range Airbus A350-1000 aircraft arrive in its fleet.
According to Reports, Delta is looking at flights to India, Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the years to come. Delta previously had flights to Mumbai but has not since the pandemic. These flights will be back in service once it gets its A350-1000 planes, which can cover the long distance between the United States and India. Bastian comments on this:
We really want to serve that market directly […] passengers can expect nonstop flights to India within the next couple of years.
Issues with flights to India
Issues that came along with the COVID-19 pandemic forced Delta, along with many other global airlines, to axe several routes from its network. The sanctions from the Russia-Ukraine war have closed Russian airspace for most Western carriers, including those in the US.
Although Indian carriers like Air India are allowed to use Russian airspace, US carriers are not. Russia is necessary for connectivity between the US and India, and while airlines can still operate flights between the two countries with alternative routes, it has its disadvantages.
Delta’s current Airbus A350-900 can make the journey to India but will have to compromise on several aspects, given the circuitous route. But once Delta acquires the A350-1000, it wouldn’t face such problems because of the longer range of the aircraft.
Delta is also building strong relationships even before beginning flights to India and Saudi Arabia by forming partnerships with local airlines. It has signed an upcoming partnership deal with Riyadh Air, with the hopes of strengthening connectivity and expanding both carriers and their respective networks.
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