The author recently flew from Pune to San Francisco (SFO) via Delhi and returned to Mumbai with Air India. The journey was eventful due to the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian aircraft, which led to a change in flight routes. On the Delhi-SFO leg, the author flew on a B777-200LR aircraft, VT-ALH, but was disappointed to find that the in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen was not functioning. Despite this, the author enjoyed the flight, which took them over the Hindu Kush mountains, and appreciated the good food and service provided by the cabin crew.
On the return journey, the author was scheduled to fly from SFO to Mumbai non-stop, but due to the closure of Pakistani airspace, the flight was diverted to make a fuel stop at Vienna. The author was impressed by Air India’s swift response to the situation and their ability to re-route flights. The SFO-Mumbai flight, which normally takes around 17.5 hours, was extended to around 20 hours with the detour. The aircraft, VT-AEG, was an ex-Delta plane with better-maintained interiors and functioning IFE.
The author appreciated the young and dynamic crew, who made the flight comfortable despite the extra halt. The flight took off from SFO, flew over North America, Greenland, and Europe, before making a stop at Vienna, where the aircraft was refueled and cleaned. The journey then continued over Europe, Iran, and Oman, before entering Indian airspace and landing in Mumbai.
The author was impressed by Air India’s efforts to maintain their schedule and provide a smooth experience for passengers, despite the challenges posed by the closure of Pakistani airspace. They noted that while the diversion may have added to the flight time and cost, it was still a more convenient option for many Indian passengers, who prefer to fly with Air India due to its familiarity, food, language, and point-to-point service. The author also observed that the closure of Pakistani airspace could give an advantage to Middle Eastern carriers (ME3) in the medium term, and that Air India’s prices may increase in the future due to the additional costs incurred by the detour.