BLR-SFO 18-hour flight proposed

[Hvr]

Air India has recently proposed a new flight route linking the IT hotspots of Bengaluru and San Francisco, located a staggering 8,699 miles (14,000km) apart.



If approved, this particular path would be the world's longest non-stop commercial route with an estimated flight time of between 17 to 18 hours.

Way too long for me but if the market is there then good luck to them.
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[SeatBackForward]

Brave is anyone willing to ensure that length of continuous time on Air India.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Brave is anyone willing to ensure that length of continuous time on Air India.

Just getting on Air India period is brave, even for a short flight, i.e. Mumbai to Goa!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Brave is anyone willing to ensure that length of continuous time on Air India.

MEL-SYD-DEL on AI - not allowed off during transit in SYD so all up around 16 hours on board. The crew were excellent, with great attention to detail during the turn-around in SYD to ensure the cabin was spotlessly clean and well prepared for the long haul. The champagne was chilled. It was perfectly acceptable.

I don't mind them for domestic flights. They weren't as glitzy as Kingfisher.

 

[Mattg]

From a route perspective, this makes some sense. More so than DXB-PTY, at least.

I met a number of people travelling to BLR when I last visited SFO. (They were booked on EK via DXB.)

 

[samh004]

I saw this the other day when trying to work out if AI had an A380 (there was a picture used on TV and I wasn't aware of them owning any - turns out they don't).

 

[anat0l]

Now why aren't the whining US carriers over this like a rash?

 

[SeatBackForward]

MEL-SYD-DEL on AI - not allowed off during transit in SYD so all up around 16 hours on board. The crew were excellent, with great attention to detail during the turn-around in SYD to ensure the cabin was spotlessly clean and well prepared for the long haul. The champagne was chilled. It was perfectly acceptable.

I don't mind them for domestic flights. They weren't as glitzy as Kingfisher.

Perhaps, on the new aircraft, there's a new operational standard?

Either way AI has a lot of legacy baggage that would need to be overcome.

 

[Foreigner]

An 18 hr flight in Y on any airline would be punishing, on AI would be torture IMO.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An 18 hr flight in Y on any airline would be punishing, on AI would be torture IMO.

Would be interesting to hear the basis for that. They are proposing to operate a 772LR - 9 abreast seating with a 34' pitch. That's an extra 3 inches of legroom over most of the majors (including Qantas for comparison of a flight of similar length).

 

[Foreigner]

Would be interesting to hear the basis for that. They are proposing to operate a 772LR - 9 abreast seating with a 34' pitch. That's an extra 3 inches of legroom over most of the majors (including Qantas for comparison of a flight of similar length).

On the first part...18 hour flights are uncommon. Such long flights can take toll on passengers.
On the second part...AI customer reviews are seldom flattering. Even relating to its J service.

Skytrax link here:

http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/air-india/

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On the first part...18 hour flights are uncommon. Such long flights can take toll on passengers.
On the second part...AI customer reviews are seldom flattering. Even relating to its J service.

Skytrax link here:

http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/air-india/

according to skytrax air India scores 5/10, and Qantas just one point more, 6/10. So that pretty much puts them in the same ball park. On that basis, air India seems to have an edge with the extra three inches of legroom.

 

[Foreigner]

You win, MEL_Traveller

 

[anat0l]

Let's not forget that the main patrons on this route are either from India themselves, or Americans who couldn't give more two hoots because there's no other direct route to India (or at least maybe what their employers will pay for).

So even if AI is not the most distinguished for service or what not in either Y or J, on this kind of route, it won't matter much, as long as (a) AI can reliably operate it - and there is much precedent on the operational reliability of AI, and (b) they can do so profitably, or perhaps they might just keep it on for posture - after all, AI is a government operation...

The main competition for this kind of route would have to be, ironically, the ME carriers, which need a single transit point.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

(b) they can do so profitably, or perhaps they might just keep it on for posture - after all, AI is a government operation...

The main competition for this kind of route would have to be, ironically, the ME carriers, which need a single transit point.

Enough said. IMHO, they are their own competition, you'll see very few American exec's flying AI. Most US based Indian exec's will also stay away, the hordes of 'commuting' workers is a different story, their patriotism will see them book AI.

Now if Jet Airways tries to match them its a different story. AI has been losing money hand over fist for years and as government owned they can afford it.

Cheers
BF

 

[samh004]

Because Air India isn't receiving $2 billion cash injections and operating two dozen services to US cities

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Because Air India isn't receiving $2 billion cash injections and operating two dozen services to US cities

Granted this is from 2012 but little has changed since then...

The Maharajah, as Air India is known, is saddled with an estimated $10bn in gross debt. It is racking up $1.5bn in annual losses and the cash-strapped government can ill-afford to add to the countless bailouts it has already given the airline.

Cheers
BF

 

[JohnK]

One has to ask why?

That length of flight can only be torture. Not good for the legs and body, not good for the mind. Surely 2 x 9 hour flights with a 1 hour transit on the ground would be more ideal?

 

[juddles]

Even in a decent J seat that is not gonna be fun.

 

[SeatBackForward]

One has to ask why?

That length of flight can only be torture. Not good for the legs and body, not good for the mind. Surely 2 x 9 hour flights with a 1 hour transit on the ground would be more ideal?

I've endured greater than 18hr bus travel in India... But even that wouldn't compare to flying on AI..