Air India, backed by the Tata Group, is set to expand its international network in 2025 with five new major destinations, including Manila, Jakarta, Dallas, and Los Angeles. These additions will increase the airline’s reach beyond its current 45 international destinations, contingent on aircraft availability.
Supply Challenges and Strategic Moves
While global supply chain issues and a strike at Boeing’s US manufacturing facilities have delayed aircraft deliveries, Air India remains optimistic about its expansion plans. The airline aims to leverage additional capacity from the Vistara merger and rationalized networks to overcome current limitations.
New and Planned Routes
In 2024, Air India added Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Zurich, Bali, and Mauritius to its international destinations. Plans for 2025 include further enhancing connectivity with:
- Manila and Jakarta: Services expected to launch in early 2025.
- Dallas and Los Angeles: Likely to commence later in the year.
Additionally, Air India is considering increasing flight frequencies to European destinations.
Rising International Traffic
The growth in international passenger traffic and Air India’s success in the international-to-international (I-to-I) transfer market have further motivated the airline’s expansion. Since the Tata Group’s takeover in 2022, Air India’s I-to-I business has doubled, adding direct connectivity and boosting its competitiveness.
Enhanced Connectivity
Air India recently launched flights on key routes like Mumbai-New York, Delhi-Amsterdam, and Bengaluru-London. By February 2025, the airline plans to optimize its network to offer seamless one-stop connections from London, Paris, and Frankfurt to cities in Southeast Asia and Australia via New Delhi.
