Originally Posted by
g46r
It'll be polar routes. Yes very long range (~8000 miles) but the flight time should be about the same in either direction with wind less of a factor at such latitude.
EWR-DEL is 14:15 to DEL and 15:05 on the return. IIRC one of the issues was low rate of climb on a fully loaded 343 making it difficult to clear the Himalayas without adding even more distance to gain sufficient altitude.