In a welcome development enhancing connectivity, Air India announced on
Friday that it will operate direct flights thrice a week from Washington
to Delhi, beginning in July, if not earlier.
The national capital region is all set to become Air India’s fifth US destination, following New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco. India’s state-owned national carrier will be the only airline offering nonstop service, on its Boeing 777 aircraft, linking the capitals of the world’s largest and oldest democracy. And quite expeditiously, given the distance, duration of the flight is about 14 hours.
Addressing an event to announce the new route on Friday, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe noted that Air India’s “capital connection” will benefit the Washington metropolitan region (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) by bringing an estimated 30,000 people from India, generating about 30 million dollars in revenue, fostering educational opportunities, and reuniting families.
In 2015, the capital area received 122,000 visitors from India, a 25 percent increase from the previous year, making India the fourth largest overseas market. By 2020, arrivals from India are estimated to increase by 7 percent and by 2025, they are projected to double.
“We committed 1.25 million dollars to this project for Air India because we understand that tourism is such an important revenue generator,” McAuliffe said. “Tourists who will now come here from India will help strengthen our communities, make us stronger”.
The event was held at the Washington Dulles International Airport, which is situated in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Virginia, approximately 26 miles west of downtown Washington, and serves the entire national capital area and beyond. A few days before, McAuliffe had come to the airport to support those protesting President Trump’s executive order which bans travel for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen.
To Read the News in Full 05/02/17 Geeta Goindi/The American Bazaar
The national capital region is all set to become Air India’s fifth US destination, following New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco. India’s state-owned national carrier will be the only airline offering nonstop service, on its Boeing 777 aircraft, linking the capitals of the world’s largest and oldest democracy. And quite expeditiously, given the distance, duration of the flight is about 14 hours.
Addressing an event to announce the new route on Friday, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe noted that Air India’s “capital connection” will benefit the Washington metropolitan region (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) by bringing an estimated 30,000 people from India, generating about 30 million dollars in revenue, fostering educational opportunities, and reuniting families.
In 2015, the capital area received 122,000 visitors from India, a 25 percent increase from the previous year, making India the fourth largest overseas market. By 2020, arrivals from India are estimated to increase by 7 percent and by 2025, they are projected to double.
“We committed 1.25 million dollars to this project for Air India because we understand that tourism is such an important revenue generator,” McAuliffe said. “Tourists who will now come here from India will help strengthen our communities, make us stronger”.
The event was held at the Washington Dulles International Airport, which is situated in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Virginia, approximately 26 miles west of downtown Washington, and serves the entire national capital area and beyond. A few days before, McAuliffe had come to the airport to support those protesting President Trump’s executive order which bans travel for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen.
To Read the News in Full 05/02/17 Geeta Goindi/The American Bazaar
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