In a significant schedule reshuffle, Air India has announced the discontinuation of its non-stop services connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai to San Francisco in the United States. The services will be withdrawn effective March 1, 2024, a move the airline attributes to aircraft deployment challenges and rising operational costs.
Operational Rejig Triggers Passenger Confusion
The decision, confirmed by an Air India spokesperson to the Times of India, is part of a broader reconfiguration of its North America network. The primary reasons cited are the need to better deploy aircraft capacity and manage escalating costs associated with ongoing airspace restrictions. This sudden change has sparked considerable confusion and concern among travelers from both cities who had booked tickets, especially for journeys scheduled beyond February 28.
Passengers have taken to social media platform X to express their anxiety. One flyer questioned, "I have flights booked on BLR-SFO (with return) in May and DEL-SFO (with return) on May 26. What do I do?" Another Bengaluru-based tech professional, Nakul Tirtha, voiced frustration, stating, "We booked months ago to avoid last-minute hassles - now, everything is uncertain."
Delhi Services Scaled Up, Direct Links Severed
While pulling the plug on the West Coast routes from India's tech and financial hubs, the Tata Group-owned carrier is simultaneously scaling up its operations from the national capital. Air India will increase the frequency of its flights from Delhi to San Francisco and Delhi to Toronto to 10 services per week.
The airline expects the expanded Delhi operations to absorb some of the displaced demand. However, the withdrawal of direct connectivity from Bengaluru and Mumbai is a major blow, particularly for the large community of tech professionals and business travelers who heavily rely on non-stop links to the US West Coast for convenience and time efficiency.
Rebooking, Refunds, and Future Possibilities
Air India has outlined the recourse for affected passengers. Those impacted by the suspension of the Bengaluru-San Francisco and Mumbai-San Francisco routes will be re-accommodated on alternative services or offered a full refund. An airline official stated that they will proactively reach out to the impacted flyers to manage the transition.
Importantly, the airline has indicated that this suspension may not be permanent. The spokesperson added, "Air India will seek to reinstate non-stop service from Bengaluru and Mumbai should airspace restrictions ease." This offers a glimmer of hope for the future restoration of these crucial direct air links, which are operated using Boeing's long-range 777-300ER aircraft.
