Delta Air Lines has unveiled its intention to launch a direct route between Atlanta, United States, and Delhi, India, as part of a strategic cooperation agreement signed with the low-cost airline IndiGo.
The new route is contingent on government approval, and no official start date has been provided yet.
This initiative is a part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the 81st International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Delhi.
The partnership aims to enhance collaboration between several significant SkyTeam member airlines and India’s largest airline by fleet size and passenger traffic, IndiGo.
Through this agreement, IndiGo joins Delta, expanding its existing collaborations with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic to further improve connectivity.
The MoU enables the airlines to leverage each other’s networks through a codeshare partnership, thus paving the way for added cooperation in various areas such as:
– Network expansions through additional codeshares,
– Loyalty program integrations,
– Cargo and sales initiatives,
– Non-commercial cooperation that covers aircraft maintenance, training, sustainability, and ground handling services.
The new route is pivotal for Delta as it seeks to reconnect with the Indian market, having never operated direct flights to Delhi; its previous flights only included service to Mumbai from both the New York JFK and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airports.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian has expressed optimism about the new agreement, stating:
“This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive, and more accessible. Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe. We look forward to restarting Delta’s direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future.”
According to data from the OAG Traffic Analyzer, around 53,000 travelers flew roundtrip between Atlanta and Delhi in the year leading to July 2024, making it the second-busiest Indian route from Atlanta, closely following services to Mumbai, which accounted for about 54,000 passenger movements.
The proposed service to Delhi is expected to benefit significantly from connections facilitated by Delta’s extensive network, along with IndiGo’s substantial offerings from the Indian capital.
Delta’s history with the Indian market illustrates a long-standing interest. The company has explored various service models, including nonstop flights and one-stop routes through Amsterdam and Paris.
Interestingly, despite never establishing direct flights to Delhi since at least 2003, Delta has serviced other Indian destinations, such as Chennai.
Its involvement in the Indian aviation market dates back to October 1990, when Northwest Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines teamed up to offer flights from Amsterdam to Delhi and Mumbai.
Over the years, Delta expanded its partnerships to include agreements with KLM and Air France, which led to various offerings, including Boeing 767 services from Paris to Mumbai until late 2006.
Despite ending its one-stop services from Paris in 2006, Delta has made several attempts to enter the Indian market during the past decade, resuming flights to Mumbai from Amsterdam until March 2015, utilizing a fleet that included Airbus A330s and Boeing 767s.
On the other hand, IndiGo is currently venturing into long-haul operations as part of its growth strategy. The airline has already begun long-haul flights to Istanbul using leased aircraft, although this agreement is close to termination due to geopolitical tensions.
Furthermore, IndiGo is expanding its long-haul fleet through a damp-lease arrangement with Norse Atlantic Airways, allowing them to test the international market while preparing for the arrival of 30 Airbus A350s, scheduled for delivery beginning in 2027.
IndiGo has also started flights to Manchester and Amsterdam, which will facilitate connections to North America via partnerships with KLM, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic.
In a joint statement, IndiGo highlighted:
“IndiGo customers will be able to book onward travel on select flights operated by its international partners, making it easier to reach destinations across Europe and North America.”
With these developments, IndiGo’s Amsterdam services are poised to benefit from European connections through KLM combined with transatlantic opportunities via KLM and Delta, while its Manchester routes leverage Virgin Atlantic to provide U.S. connectivity.
As IndiGo seeks to expand its presence in Europe, additional destinations such as London are under consideration as part of its broader expansion strategy.
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