Air India adds 78 extra flights to Europe, US and Indian Ocean amid West Asia disruption

Air India will operate 78 additional flights between 10 and 18 March 2026 to Europe, the United States and nearby regional destinations as demand surges due to the ongoing disruption to air travel across West Asia.

Additional routes and destinations

Extra capacity will be deployed from Delhi and Mumbai to major international gateways:

Europe

• London (Heathrow) – from Delhi and Mumbai
• Frankfurt
• Amsterdam
• Paris (Charles de Gaulle)
• Zurich

United States

• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City (subject to regulatory approval)

Regional routes

• Malé, Maldives
• Colombo, Sri Lanka

Capacity added

• 17,660 extra seats across nine routes (both directions combined)

• Aircraft types:

  • Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on Europe routes
  • Boeing 777-300ER for New York flights
  • Airbus A320neo for Malé and Colombo services

Key frequency boosts

• Delhi–Frankfurt: extra daily flights (except 14 March)
• Delhi–London: four additional rotations
• Mumbai–London: two additional rotations
• Delhi–Amsterdam: three extra flights
• Delhi–Paris: one extra rotation
• Delhi–Zurich: two extra rotations
• Delhi–New York (JFK): three extra flights (pending approval)

Strategic context

Air India says it is maintaining scheduled long-haul services to Europe and North America using alternative routings considered safe, even as several airlines reduce capacity due to airspace restrictions across the Middle East.

The move reflects how India–Europe routes have become an important workaround corridor for passengers affected by regional disruptions.