Air India Expands Asia Network with New Non-Stop Routes from Delhi to Hanoi and Mumbai to Tokyo Haneda

(IN SHORT) Air India has announced the launch of two new international routes to strengthen its network across Asia. Starting 1 May 2026, the airline will operate five weekly non-stop flights between Delhi and Hanoi, making Hanoi its second destination in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City. The route will be served by Airbus A320neo aircraft and will add more than 7,000 seats per month between the two countries while offering travellers the flexibility to plan open-jaw itineraries within Vietnam. On 15 June 2026, Air India will also launch four weekly flights between Mumbai and Tokyo Haneda using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, complementing the airline’s existing daily Delhi-Tokyo service. The expansion reflects growing travel demand between India, Japan and Vietnam and strengthens Air India’s connectivity across Southeast Asia and the Far East. Passengers will benefit from upgraded onboard products, improved connectivity through Air India’s network, and additional onward connections in Japan through its codeshare partnership with All Nippon Airways.

(PRESS RELEASE) GURUGRAM, India, 2026-Mar-5 — /Travel PR News/ — Air India has announced the introduction of two new international routes as part of its ongoing expansion across Asia, strengthening connectivity between India and key destinations in Southeast and East Asia. The airline will begin operating non-stop services between Delhi and Hanoi from 1 May 2026, while non-stop flights between Mumbai and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport will commence on 15 June 2026.

With the launch of the Delhi–Hanoi route, Hanoi becomes Air India’s second destination in Vietnam, complementing the airline’s existing services to Ho Chi Minh City. The new route will operate five times per week and will provide travellers with additional flexibility when planning trips to Vietnam, particularly for those wishing to enter the country via Hanoi and depart from Ho Chi Minh City, or vice versa.

Air India will deploy its Airbus A320neo aircraft on the Delhi–Hanoi route, offering a three-class configuration with Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The new service will add approximately 7,028 seats per month between India and Vietnam, expanding travel capacity and improving access between the two countries.

Passengers travelling on Air India flights to Vietnam will also benefit from convenient connections through the airline’s wider domestic and international network, including onward travel to the United Kingdom and other European destinations.

The airline’s second new route will link Mumbai with Tokyo Haneda, operating four times a week using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. The new service complements Air India’s existing daily flights between Delhi and Tokyo Haneda, further strengthening the airline’s presence in Japan.

Earlier in 2026, Air India increased the frequency of its Delhi–Tokyo Haneda service from four weekly flights to daily operations. The airline also upgraded the aircraft operating the route to the Boeing 787-9, introducing Premium Economy cabins for the first time on the service.

Passengers travelling on Air India’s Japan routes can expect upgraded onboard experiences featuring modern cabin interiors, updated in-flight entertainment systems, onboard Wi-Fi connectivity and refreshed food and beverage offerings.

Air India also maintains a codeshare partnership with fellow Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways (ANA), enabling travellers arriving in Tokyo to connect seamlessly to additional destinations across Japan. These include Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka and Sapporo.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, said the airline has significantly expanded its network across Southeast Asia and the Far East since its privatization. He noted that Air India has introduced new routes, strengthened airline partnerships and progressively rolled out improved onboard products as part of its strategy to enhance connectivity across regions.

Aggarwal also highlighted the growing demand for travel between India and countries such as Japan and Vietnam, driven by increasing tourism as well as strengthening economic and business ties. The launch of the new routes is intended to support these growing travel flows while expanding Air India’s presence in the region.

Tourism data reflects this rising demand. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, more than 315,000 Indian travellers visited Japan in 2025, representing a 35 percent increase compared with 2024 and nearly 80 percent growth compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Vietnam has also seen strong growth in international tourism and business travel. The country welcomed more than 20 million visitors in 2025, ranking it among the most visited destinations in Southeast Asia, and increasing its popularity among leisure travellers as well as corporate and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) groups.

Tickets for the new services will be progressively available for booking through Air India’s official website, mobile application and authorized travel agents.

About Air India group
The Air India group – comprising of full-service global airline, Air India, and value carrier, Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 58 domestic and 51 international destinations across five
continents.

Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed an order for 600 new aircraft. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India, respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2026, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit.

With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.

For more stories on Air India, visit http://www.airindia.com/newsroom

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SOURCE: Air India Ltd.