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Delta could restart JFK-BOM on A359s right now if it wanted to

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Delta could restart JFK-BOM on A359s right now if it wanted to

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Old Feb 16, 2026 | 8:15 pm
  #1  
WorldTraveller95
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Delta could restart JFK-BOM on A359s right now if it wanted to
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight ... /KJFK/VABB

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight ... /VABB/KJFK

Air India has been flying BOM-JFK and JFK-BOM avoiding Russian and Iranian airspace on 777-300ers with less range than a350-900s.

Delta and United could restart EWR/JFK-BOM with 787-9s and A359s right now if they wanted to. Air India has been avoiding Russia and Iranian airspace on JFK-BOM both ways as shown in the links above with 777-300ers that have less range than a350-900s and 787-9s.
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Old Feb 16, 2026 | 8:40 pm
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sc001
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Lots of routes Delta could add from JFK if they had an A350 base here and thought they could run them profitably.

Hopefully we see Delta start A350 flying from JFK in the next few years. Would love the return of some Asia and India routes.
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Old Feb 16, 2026 | 8:47 pm
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WorldTraveller95
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Here are some possibilities beyond the rumored JFK-ICN

JFK-BOM
JFK-DEL
JFK-NBO
JFK-CPT/JNB
JFK-AUH (probably easier than DXB considering Etihad is a little less of a global brand than Emirates and Qatar are)
JFK-HND (if slots open)
JFK-PVG
JFK-TPE

Small chance JFK-HKG on A350-1000s can happen if LAX-HKG does well, JFK-BKK provides a missing link.
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Old Feb 16, 2026 | 10:35 pm
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Originally Posted by sc001
Lots of routes Delta could add from JFK if they had an A350 base here and thought they could run them profitably.

Hopefully we see Delta start A350 flying from JFK in the next few years. Would love the return of some Asia and India routes.
The base is inevitable at JFK, but DL will make sure they have enough aircraft in the system and routes ready to roll out before establishing that base.
And that means this will all happen slightly later than sooner.
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Old Feb 16, 2026 | 11:18 pm
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UAflyerwhoflystomuch
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Originally Posted by WorldTraveller95
Here are some possibilities beyond the rumored JFK-ICN

JFK-BOM
JFK-DEL
JFK-NBO
JFK-CPT/JNB
JFK-AUH (probably easier than DXB considering Etihad is a little less of a global brand than Emirates and Qatar are)
JFK-HND (if slots open)
JFK-PVG
JFK-TPE

Small chance JFK-HKG on A350-1000s can happen if LAX-HKG does well, JFK-BKK provides a missing link.
CPT/JNB seems like one of the most likely - UA operates it and does quite well from EWR and IAD (I assume they have enough data on the ATL - JNB/CPT routes to see though)
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Old Feb 17, 2026 | 8:50 am
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The Situation
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Originally Posted by WorldTraveller95
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight ... /KJFK/VABB

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight ... /VABB/KJFK

Air India has been flying BOM-JFK and JFK-BOM avoiding Russian and Iranian airspace on 777-300ers with less range than a350-900s.

Delta and United could restart EWR/JFK-BOM with 787-9s and A359s right now if they wanted to. Air India has been avoiding Russia and Iranian airspace on JFK-BOM both ways as shown in the links above with 777-300ers that have less range than a350-900s and 787-9s.
AA and UA also have nonstop flights from NYC area airports. Despite the length of flight, airlines have found out time and time again that passengers are not willing to pay the premium needed to justify utilizing their aircraft on flights from U.S. to India. Looking at nonstop flight prices in the next 6 months, roundtrip flights in J to DEL start at $2983 and BOM are $4306. Meanwhile destinations in Europe start at $3000 and go up to more than $6000 (Munich, Vienna, etc). Why would they utilize their aircraft to fly twice as far to make the same revenue or less, especially knowing there is already competition on the route and that will further depress yields?
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Old Feb 17, 2026 | 8:53 am
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Originally Posted by The Situation
AA and UA also have nonstop flights from NYC area airports. Despite the length of flight, airlines have found out time and time again that passengers are not willing to pay the premium needed to justify utilizing their aircraft on flights from U.S. to India. Looking at nonstop flight prices in the next 6 months, roundtrip flights in J to DEL start at $2983 and BOM are $4306. Meanwhile destinations in Europe start at $3000 and go up to more than $6000 (Munich, Vienna, etc). Why would they utilize their aircraft to fly twice as far to make the same revenue or less, especially knowing there is already competition on the route and that will further depress yields?
Most premium travelers prefer Emirates/Etihad/Qatar.
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Old Feb 17, 2026 | 9:02 am
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Originally Posted by WorldTraveller95
Most premium travelers prefer Emirates/Etihad/Qatar.
I'm really not sure this is true for US->India vs non-stops on AA or UA from New York for those final destinations served (BOM / DEL).

I'm not sure I could justify the extra 6+ hours to connect in Doha/Abu Dhabi vs a potential direct out of Atlanta to my final destination in India

I'm sure someone with Cirium data access could prove this out.

For other destinations in India where you'd have to connect once arriving in India, probably makes far more sense to take EK/EY/QR
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Old Feb 17, 2026 | 9:09 am
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Originally Posted by atldiamond
I'm really not sure this is true for US->India vs non-stops on AA or UA from New York for those final destinations served (BOM / DEL).

I'm not sure I could justify the extra 6+ hours to connect in Doha/Abu Dhabi vs a potential direct out of Atlanta to my final destination in India

I'm sure someone with Cirium data access could prove this out.

For other destinations in India where you'd have to connect once arriving in India, probably makes far more sense to take EK/EY/QR
regarding nonstops from Atlanta delta did announce intentions to fly atl-del nonstop but anything can happen until a start date is announced. Not ruling out a possibility delta changes its mind to do jfk-India to pair the jfk-icn a350 once that starts considering the Atlanta to Delhi announcement happened before the one mile at a time lax-mnl/sin and lax/jfk-icn rumor broke out.
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Old Feb 17, 2026 | 10:00 am
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Originally Posted by WorldTraveller95
Most premium travelers prefer Emirates/Etihad/Qatar.
Exactly my point as to why flights on U.S. carriers fail.

Originally Posted by atldiamond
I'm really not sure this is true for US->India vs non-stops on AA or UA from New York for those final destinations served (BOM / DEL).

I'm not sure I could justify the extra 6+ hours to connect in Doha/Abu Dhabi vs a potential direct out of Atlanta to my final destination in India

I'm sure someone with Cirium data access could prove this out.

For other destinations in India where you'd have to connect once arriving in India, probably makes far more sense to take EK/EY/QR
One of my spouse's colleagues has family in India. They are not premium travelers, but they want everyone to think they are, so they fly from SEA through Dubai to visit family twice a year. They always make sure everyone knows that they flew through Dubai and always talk about all the stuff they bought at the duty-free store in Dubai. You could make a drinking game out of how many times they mention Dubai when they talk about India. And then they complain about how they can barely make their rent payments every single month. Not exactly my favorite person to have to interact with at my spouse's company holiday party.
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Old Feb 18, 2026 | 6:03 pm
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Originally Posted by sc001
Lots of routes Delta could add from JFK if they had an A350 base here and thought they could run them profitably.

Hopefully we see Delta start A350 flying from JFK in the next few years. Would love the return of some Asia and India routes.
Yes, could be A350-1000 or even A350-900 aircraft. Who knows?? You think A350-900 can fly nonstop from JFK-BOM or even DEL. They will avoiding Russian and Iran airspace. Sure they do! They can barely make it to BOM.
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Old Feb 18, 2026 | 8:02 pm
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WorldTraveller95
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Originally Posted by N830MH
Yes, could be A350-1000 or even A350-900 aircraft. Who knows?? You think A350-900 can fly nonstop from JFK-BOM or even DEL. They will avoiding Russian and Iran airspace. Sure they do! They can barely make it to BOM.
American is flying jfk-del on 787-9s so is United out of Newark and air India using a359s from both airports to Delhi.
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Old Feb 18, 2026 | 9:51 pm
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Originally Posted by WorldTraveller95
Most premium travelers prefer Emirates/Etihad/Qatar.
I believe there are a lot of factors that go into the decision of which airline to fly to India. I have always flown DL/KL/AF as it's one stop to BOM/DEL, and it let's me accrue my miles on my dominant airline. I'm also traveling for business and find the accommodations to be more than adequate. Would Emirates/Etihad/Qatar be better? Perhaps. But flying SkyTeam gets me to where I'm going in one stop versus two stops on the ME3 for some of the US cities I come from/go to. Bottom line...a number of factors go into the decision.
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 12:50 pm
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Originally Posted by WorldTraveller95
American is flying jfk-del on 787-9s so is United out of Newark and air India using a359s from both airports to Delhi.
Right! But UA/AA hasn't resume EWR/JFK-BOM yet.
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 3:48 pm
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This is crazy - I swear I thought Air India did fly over Russia - the projected route on Thursday showed this.
My buddy was on this actual plane (I was in the Centurion Lounge).


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