Air India To Start Benagluru-San Francisco Flight Via Delhi On December 2

National carrier Air India on Friday said that it will start operating its thrice-weekly flight from Bengaluru to San Francisco via Delhi from 2 December 2015.

This will be the fourth destination for Air India in the United States after from New York (JFK), Newark (EWR) and Chicago (ORD).

The flight will travel non-stop from Delhi to San Francisco and passengers will undergo customs and immigration formalities at Bengaluru airport.

"Air India has done us proud by getting its act together, working as a team. Indo-US relations had gone to a different level and this direct flight will add more values to it,” said Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

Air India might start operating Delhi-Washington flight soon, the minister said.

Flight AI-127 from Bengaluru to New Delhi will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9.05 pm and arrive in the national capital at 23.15 pm.

Boeing’s B777-200LR flight AI-173 to San Francisco will leave Delhi on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 2.35 am.

The return flight from San Francisco will depart at 10.30 am and will reach Delhi the next day (Thursday, Saturday and Monday) at 4.15 pm.

The Boeing aircraft will offer a 3-cabin configuration with 8 seats in First class, 35 in Business and 195 in Economy class.

"This marks the resurgence of Air India. And the newly-formulated Civil Aviation Policy will be very useful for us," said Ashwini Lohani, chairman and managing director of Air India.

This is one of the longest flights in the world, which will provide seamless travel between two Silicon Valley of Bengaluru and San Francisco.

Air India will also be offering introductory offer for its First and Business class passengers on return journey, with one Return ticket (2 Flight coupons) in Executive class on its domestic network.

This offer will be available on tickets booked between 1 October 2015 and 15 January 2016, for travel between 2 December 2015 and 31 January 2016.