AI launches first non-stop Delhi-New York flight

New York, Feb 8 (UNI) Air India today became the first Indian air carrier operating a direct nonstop flight between Delhi and New York when its newly acquired Boeing touched down at the JFK airport.

The nonstop flight named 'Andhra Pradesh' took just 15 hours and 10 minutes only, cutting down travel time between the two cities by at least three hours.

Air India deployed its Boeing 777-200 (Longer Range), a 238 seater aircraft connecting the two cities and is second non-stop flight to the US, the first being between Mumbai and New York-- launched on August 1 last year.

A team of mediapersons from Delhi, travelling on the inaugural flight were told that Air India now plans to launch its third nonstop flight, most probably between Bangalore and San Fransisco.

The Delhi-New York flight will have the most convenient timing, leaving Delhi at 0030 hrs and arriving JFK at 0545 hrs. It will depart JFK at 1600 hrs and arrive Delhi at 1630 hrs the next day.

''The timings will help passengers arriving in Delhi to get connecting flights to major cities the same evening'', an official said.

The passengers travelling on the first flight said, ''It is a convenient flight as one can attened the office soon after reaching New York''.

On its way back, the flight will leave in the evening reaching Delhi next day afternoon.

The 238 seater aircraft will have eight seats in the first class, 35 seats in executive class and 195 seats in the economy class.

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