As Pakistani airspace remains under tensions, Air India is still dealing with refueling in European cities.
Air India flight AI188 departed Toronto Monday, May 12 2025 for a long flight to New Delhi.
Almost 9 hours into the flight, the Boeing 777-300ER (registration VT-ALQ) was flying at FL330 over Romania when the crew decided to turn around and landed later in Frankfurt.
It’s not clear if the flight diverted due to a medical emergency on board or if pilots realized they didn’t have fuel enough to reach new Delhi as Air India flights still not fly into Pakistani airspace.
Several AI flights to the US, have to refuel in Vienna despite Pakistan reopened its airspace for all categories of flights on Saturday, May 10, 2025, after a ceasefire with India.
The flight AI188 resumed from Frankfurt at 13:18 CEST.
Air India flight network to USA
Air India, the flag carrier of India, offers an extensive network of non-stop flights connecting major Indian cities to key destinations across the United States. As of May 2025, the airline serves the following U.S. cities:
Current U.S. Destinations
- New York City (JFK)
- Newark, NJ (EWR)
- Washington, D.C. (IAD)
- Chicago, IL (ORD)
- San Francisco, CA (SFO)
These routes primarily operate from hubs in Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), and Bengaluru (BLR), offering travelers direct connectivity between India and the U.S.
Upcoming U.S. Destinations
Air India is expanding its U.S. network with plans to introduce non-stop flights to:
- Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Approved and expected to launch soon.
- Dallas, TX (DFW)
- Boston, MA (BOS)
- Seattle, WA (SEA)
These routes are part of Air India’s strategic expansion to enhance connectivity between India and the U.S.
