Air India headed to Atlanta?

With increasing numbers of Indian population in Atlanta and neighboring cities, demand for nonstop flights from Atlanta to Delhi and other Indian cities is on the rise. Being a thriving economic hub in the Southeast, Atlanta has potential to be a promising destination among the US gateways of Air India. Atlanta Indians are looking to welcome the flag carrier of India for a base at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest air travel hub.

Air India already operates flights from several North American cities which include New York, Washington DC, Chicago and Los Angeles, the addition on direct flight between Atlanta and the Indian Sub-Continent would provide acess to passengers traveling from other South East cities as well.

If Air India adds the Georgia city for flights from Atlanta to India, the airline will have to face stiff competition from other international carriers such as Qatar and Turkish Airlines which already operate Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Follow Spotlife Asia for the latest news and updates.

Air India’s other competitors are Lufthansa and Delta Airlines in the Southeast. Lufthansa operates some routes to India from Atlanta through its hub in Frankfurt. Delta Airlines operates flights from Atlanta to Mumbai, Delhi and other Indian cities via Amsterdam in codeshare partnership with Jet Airways. Notably, cheap fare deals for Atlanta to India flights by the rivals of Air India are available at Indian Eagle.

Air India could also butt heads with Delta, which has said in the past that the Air India used U.S. taxpayer-subsidized loans through the Export-Import Bank of the United States to buy widebody aircraft, giving it a lower cost basis on long-haul routes.

Delta previously operated a short-lived nonstop flight to Mumbai from Atlanta but has said that unfair competition from Middle East carriers and Air India make it uneconomical to restart the link.

“It’s always a business decision for the airline. No matter how much we want somebody, it needs to be something they feel like can be profitable for them.” – said Roosevelt Council of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The new push comes at a time of change for India’s national carrier as the government works  to privatize the airline, reducing its overall debt burden to help it better compete globally. At the same time, a new owner would improve the airline’s corporate culture.