Amid rising student demand, Air India to double US flights

Air India is increasing the frequency of its flights to the US by over two times to 21 flights a week from August 7, compared to less than 10 weekly flights operated in July, as demand from students travelling to US universities for the commencement of fall semester surges, an Air India official said.

The doubled frequency, however, is still half the 40 flights a week that Air India operated prior to the US government order in May banning travellers from India due to rising Covid-19 cases here.

Travel restrictions imposed by the United States, in addition to a curb on Indian travellers to the UAE, had led to a situation where students travelling to the US found themselves with significantly fewer travel options and inflated ticket prices.