Losses, poor demand force Air India to stop Mumbai-New York flight

May 20, 2019: Air India has decided to discontinue the direct flight between Mumbai and New York owing to poor demand, and according to reports, losses.

The national carrier had suspended the flight in February following the closure of Pakistan airspace and expected to resume it in June this year. However, an AI spokesperson has revealed that the flight will not be resumed due to poor load factor or low seat occupancy. The airline started operating direct flights between Mumbai and New York in December 2018.

The closure of Pakistan airspace has caused increase in flying time of US-bound Indian flights as the route is diverted to avoid any breach of Pakistan air space. This has pushed the cost of operating flights for airlines.