Air India to launch first non-stop flight to San Francisco Dec 2, 2015; eyes 80% PLF on Boeing 777-200LR flight

Air India will launch its first non-stop flight to San Francisco from Delhi on December 2, 2015 and the company is expecting a passenger load factor (PLF) of roughly 80% for the economy class and 75% for its business class segment in its latest venture.

According to a senior official, Air India will provide with 18 business-class seats and 290 economy-class seats in the long-haul flight.

“It will be a 16-hour flight and we are going to configure the Boeing 777-200LR flight for our first non-stop flight to San Francisco,” the official told FE.

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Air India’s plan to fly non-stop comes after the company received fresh funding from the government as part of the turnaround plan.

“Non-stop flights offer better crew and flight utilisation. Moreover, we have priced the ticket at $999 for a return trip from India to San Francisco. We also intend to give further concessions in the days to come,” the official added.
The official said that Air India had a dialogue with several citizens of San Francisco of Indian origin, who proposed the airline company to start a non-stop service to India.

Experts said that a lot of tech-based entrepreneurs fly from India to San Francisco given the start-up boom. As a result, Air India will get a lot of passengers for its non-stop flight to the city that is based in the west coast of the US.

“Non-stop routes should be operated as per demand. PLF on direct non-stop routes are generally low. If Air India, as a member of the Star Alliance, manages to get decent PLF on the route, the plan is sustainable,” said a Mumbai-based consultant with a multinational financial services firm.

Air India is expected to make an operating profit of about Rs 6 crore this fiscal and the management of the national carrier has taken a decision to induct 15 Airbus A320 aircraft on lease to improve the domestic operations. These planes will be leased from Kuwait-based company ALAFCO.

Air India also plans to induct six more Dreamliners in the fiscal 2018, which will enhance the company’s services in the long-haul flights.