Air India Announces New Australian Flight

Air India has announced a new service to Melbourne, Australia, from Mumbai.

An announcement comes following months of speculation surrounding the connection, which has been labelled necessary.

December Launch For Mumbai To Melbourne

The Allan Labour government has partnered with Air India to bring a new route to Melbourne from Mumbai.

This new connection will add 40,000 seats annually into Victoria and be operated thrice weekly.

The Mumbai to Melbourne connection is slated to commence in December of this year and will complement an existing Delhi to Melbourne route served by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Air India’s Delhi to Melbourne connection is operated daily and has been crucial since its launch in connecting customers seeking to travel to/from India.

Victoria believes the newly announced connection is necessary as India becomes an even more critical part of the world economy. The country is slated to be the world’s third-largest economy by 2030.

149,000 people were quoted as travelling between India and Victoria last year alone, with the state being a popular tourist and study destination.

However, with so many cities within India harbouring a substantial population, Melbourne has lacked connectivity to the country, something Air India is hoping to change, with a Mumbai connection being the next logical step.

Comments From Executives

We’re very excited that the first direct flights from Mumbai to Australia will land in Melbourne. This new route will boost tourism, create local jobs and open more pathways for Victorian businesses to reach one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins

In recent months Melbourne Airport has seen record numbers of Indian visitors travelling through the terminals, and this new service will make it even easier for families to reconnect and for tourists and students to explore our great state.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus

A Continued Commitment To Transformation

Air India’s new service to Melbourne from Mumbai continues with the theme of transforming the business.

The carrier has already committed to 470 new narrowbodies and widebody aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. Additionally, it’s commitment to interior upgrades and a massive overhaul.

Further changes to a loyalty program, airport lounges, and more will arrive in the coming years as Air India transforms its image.

The end goal for the carrier is to become a leading global airline that reflects positively on India, where it adorns the title of flag carrier.

An investment in improving the overall product hasn’t come cheap. However, new ownership is the driving force behind such a rebuild that is believed to be within reach.

Melbourne Commits To Rebuilding Connections

Melbourne Airport has recently seen many airlines expand services or return to the airport after a period away.

Most recently, United Airlines committed to double daily flights to the city located in the south-eastern part of Australia.

For Melbourne Airport, there’s much interest in future growth as the city surpasses Sydney with time. An expansion includes the highly sought-after, rumoured and discussed internally Air Canada flight from Vancouver.