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Delta Ends Nonstop Flights to India
David Beasley
Atlanta - 07.09.09

After confirming in June that it would move its nonstop flight from Atlanta to Mumbai, India, back to New York, Delta Air Lines Inc. has now suspended the service altogether, leaving the airline with no nonstop flights between the United States and India.

Delta said the decision was prompted by lower projected passenger demand.

The airline’s last nonstop flight from the U.S. to Mumbai will be on Oct. 21 from Atlanta, the airline said in a statement. The last direct flight from Mumbai to Atlanta will be on Oct. 23.

Delta will offer flights between the U.S and India through Amsterdam on Delta subsidiary Northwest Airlines and through Paris on Air France, a Delta partner.

“Delta remains committed to India and will continue to evaluate the market for nonstop service from the United States,” the statement said.

Delta said in June that it would move the Atlanta-Mumbai flight back to New York on Oct. 24. The nonstop service to Mumbai was moved here last year from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The inaugural flight from Atlanta on Nov. 1 carried a Georgia trade delegation.

Three days before the first Atlanta flight, India’s U.S. Ambassador, Ronan Sen announced in Atlanta that India would open a consulate here by the end of 2009.

Responding to the worldwide economic downturn, Delta has also suspended flights between Atlanta and Shanghai, China, and Seoul, South Korea, beginning Sept. 1 as the airline cuts international capacity by another 5 percent on top of the 10 percent reductions it announced last year. 

Ani Agnihotri, founder and managing partner of the Atlanta-based U.S.-India Business and Research Center, has taken the Atlanta to Mumbai flight four times, including the inaugural flight. Although he understands Delta's need to cut costs, Mr. Agnihotri said suspending the flight is still "very difficult and heartbreaking," for frequent travelers to India.

Nonstop flights are particularly important to business travelers who are on short trips and pressed for time, he said. "Non-stop flights save 20-25 percent of your time," he said. "If you are only there for a week, saving half a day means a lot."   

 

Comments:

Shankar:
I think as usual this is poor analysis on Delta's part. I will use the skymiles and move to a different airline because I know for a fact that Air France is the worst airline possible. Instead of cancelling, they could make it thrice a week to Mumbai and shift to other indian cities direct like Bangalore. Make it two flights to bangalore and three to mumbai. Without understanding the business motivation and the indian market, these folks march along. Wonder who is doing their crazy marketing projections and analysis.
July 19, 2009 1 p.m.
Parag:
I have been Platinum on Delta for 7 years now and fly to India every 6 weeks. I am based in Philadelphia and have travelled to ATL and JFK many times to get the direct flight. If Delta is listening, here is a piece of advice from a frequent traveller. If you want to make money on this route, restrict the use of buddy passes. Each flight that I have been on (a total of 7 direct flghts either from JFK or ATL), there are atleast 6 buddy pass flyers in business first. I dont even know how many would be there in economy. On long routes, the most expensive component is fule and the more free passangers and luggage you carry, will reflect on your bottom line. Bad move to cancel this route. I will now fly PHL-ATL-DXB-BOM so that I get the flat beds instead of flying AF or NW. I dont know how long I will stay loyal if this route does not resume.
July 20, 2009 11:16 a.m.
P K Dave:
Yes, a bad move by DL. I am Platinum as I fly to India a lot. Now Air India has only non-stop out of JFK, and AI is in a heap of financial trouble. It was wrong to move it ATL and then wrong to cancel. Routing via AMS or CDG puts DL in same league as BA, CO, AF, LH, 9W, KL etc. etc. so now $$ yields drop
July 28, 2009 5:08 p.m.
A Gupta:
I am Platinum on Delta and fly to India 4-6 times a year. Cancelling the non-stop is a bad move with AF as the option thru Europe - this is THE worst option. Will have to consider switching back to Star Alliance as they seem to bemaking smarter moves. Maybe the India segment just isn't important to Delta.
August 09, 2009 1:33 p.m.
Dr Dilip:
I switched to Delta and even got on their American Express card just for these direct flights. As they are gone, I am seriously considering switching to Continental for all my travel, international as well as within USA. Delta does not offer me any thing special and different than this direct flight to India which I take in business class. I have always gone with my wife and yes, I buy two tickets. So long Delta unless you change your plans.
August 10, 2009 6:29 p.m.
John Doe:
Can no one not understand the recession is affecting international travel?? Delta saw a profitable route with Atlanta-Mumbai, but if there is not a demand, they can't afford to fly the planes there (no demand = no supply). The company needs to be profitable. It will come back, when there is a demand for it. As far as the guy complaining about buddy passes, that is irrelevant. If you want to sit in business class, buy the ticket, but don't tell airline employees whom work hard for the company they can't sit up front if there are empty seats any ways... If the plane was full with revenue passengers, the buddy passes wouldn't be flying any ways...
August 13, 2009 7:04 p.m.
Davinder:
This is very heartbreaking. Pairs stopover is pretty painful and time consuming. Seems like I need to also move back to continental or Jet direct flights..
August 21, 2009 12:35 a.m.
Sabin:
Wish they realized that if only the service was better they would have a full flight - all other operators are running full flights to mumbai
September 08, 2009 11:34 p.m.
RicKy:
I have taken this flight several times out of NYC and it was always packed. I suspect they wanted toe aircraft with its flat beds for LHW or another route.
September 18, 2009 10:07 p.m.
Neil Kini:
I was disappointed to hear that Delta is not going to Mumbai anymore. Last year my family and I went ATL - BOM and it was the best flying experience ever. I was able to sleep really well. Now it's going to be a pain to have to stopover in Paris all over again. I hope Delta brings back the ATL - BOM since this works out great for the business travelers.
October 28, 2009 11:32 p.m.
jack:
I am disappointed with Delta's move. They first started service to Chennai and canceled it, then they started to BOM direct flight and canceled it. I been flying almost every month to India. Just last month I moved to Continental and using their direct service to Bom. Flight is always full and yes I fly business class. Hopefully one of the airlines from India will start the direct flight to major cities in India.
December 11, 2009 8:28 a.m.
Sayan:
Went to book a nonstop to India today and got a major shock to see that Delta has stopped the nonstop to Mumbai. I thought that perhaps NW was offering a nonstop from DTW but that wasn't the case either. I am a Platinum and fly Business frequently to India and China. Now that the nonstops to Mumbai and Shanghai are both gone, I guess I have no choice but to switch to Continental from EWR since they have nonstops to Beijing, Shanghai, Delhi, and Mumbai. Connecting through Europe is horrible and a total waste of time (not to mention the trouble of going through security again. Sorry Delta but very bad decision. Will switch to Continental.
January 05, 2010 7:12 p.m.
Mohan:
I do agree with What Sayan said. My time at Asterdam was not good and I was not in good mood! I cannot tolerate wasting times in Europe because of security hassle.. I decide to cancel delta membership as soon as I use it up. thank you for nothing Sayan: Went to book a nonstop to India today and got a major shock to see that Delta has stopped the nonstop to Mumbai. I thought that perhaps NW was offering a nonstop from DTW but that wasn't the case either. I am a Platinum and fly Business frequently to India and China. Now that the nonstops to Mumbai and Shanghai are both gone, I guess I have no choice but to switch to Continental from EWR since they have nonstops to Beijing, Shanghai, Delhi, and Mumbai. Connecting through Europe is horrible and a total waste of time (not to mention the trouble of going through security again. Sorry Delta but very bad decision. Will switch to Continental.
January 05, 2010 9:28 p.m.
Max Diaz:
Delta has stopped dierct flights to Mumbai.I hope Delta resumes its direct flights. 'OH Paris" connection.Paris is a Pain.I have missed my connecting flights from Paris to US.French people are difficult to communicate. French people have an attitude problem.
January 05, 2010 10:25 p.m.
BARIA V B:
ITS DIFFICULT TO DIGEST THE REASONING GIVEN BY DELTA AIRLINES THAT ITS BECAUSE OF ECONOMY ISSUE THEY HAVE TRIED TO STOP THIS NON STOP FLIGHT BETWEEN ATL AND MUMBAI...IN MY LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF TRAVEL WITH DELTA, I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN THE PLANE FLYING WITH FULL CAPACITY...AND LESS THE BETTER ABOUT THE CONNECTION FROM PARIS. HOPE WISER COUNSEL WILL PREVAIL, AND THE AIRLINES WILL RESTART THIS DIRECT FLIGHT IN THE BENEFIT OF MOST OF ITS CUSTOMERS. IF COST FACTOR WAS INDEED AN ISSUE, THE AIRLINES COULD HAVE REDUCED THE FREQUENCY TO SAY 3 TIMES A WEEK.
January 10, 2010 8:18 p.m.
Jeff Bal:
You guys have no understanding of the airline industry. When you say " reduce the flight to to 3 times a week" you don't realize that this leaves a $250 million plane sitting on the ground generating zero revenue for more than half of the week. Airlines have to fill nearly every seat especially first/business to make money as margins are extremely tight. Do a little research and try to understand how difficult logistics of international route set up is for carriers. Trust me if the flights were full and they were making money the flight would not have been canceled (:
January 26, 2010 7:01 a.m.
Tanvini:
No problem. If Delta stopped I will fly Continental. I don't care which airline. What I care is it has to be non stop to Mumbai !!!
February 09, 2010 2:37 p.m.
Mona:
I dont blame Delta. Its these kanjoos desis who prefer to take a millions stops on the way to India to save bucks that has led to insufficient demand for non-stop Atl-Bom flights ! My parents always travelled with Delta... and now they have to fly Continental with such long stopover times at Newark airport !
February 21, 2010 11:25 p.m.
John:
I have taken the DELTA direct flight several times and have never seen this flight with less than 70%-80% full. I am sure there would have been ample business for a 3 to 5 time a week direct flight for DELTA. I think this move is due to pressure from European partners to better their business and in compromising route trade offs. And yes after being pampered on a direct flight going via CDG is something many would consider shifting their carrier of choice.
February 22, 2010 11:58 a.m.
Sunil Deshpande:
From the reviews there appears to be a need for continuing this flight this seems to be a Wrong decision.Hope the flights will again be resumed
February 22, 2010 7:22 p.m.
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