THE long promised relaunch of Air India (AI) non-stop flights to Australia appears to be gathering speed, with the carrier requesting a range of tenders to commence in both Melbourne and Sydney, ahead of a 28 Oct 2012 start date.
Travel Daily can reveal AI has sought tenders for cockpit/cabin crew layover accom in both cities, as well as comprehensive, cargo and security handling at both Melbourne and Sydney airports for its 2012 Winter Season.
Although schedules are yet to be finalised, the documents suggest that Air India is planning to fly a daily triangular service from Delhi to both the Victorian and NSW capitals, using either B777-200LR, B777-300ERs or 787 Dreamliners.
Flight AI312 will depart Delhi on Mon, Tue, Thu & Sat at 1:40am, arriving into Sydney at 7:15pm.
The service will then carry onto Melbourne at 8:45pm, arriving into the Vic capital at 10:15pm.
The return Flight AI311 will depart MEL at 11:45pm & arrive back at Delhi at 6:55am +1.
Flights on the other three days of the week will operate in the other direction, arriving non-stop into Melbourne at 4.20pm each Wed, Fri and Sun before continuing onto Sydney and departing for Delhi at 8.45pm.
Air India’s accom tender is for approx. 30 rooms/day in centrally located 5- or 4-star hotels, to include brekkie & internet access (for cockpit crew only) with gym access and airport to hotel crew transportation also preferred.
Submissions are required to be sent to the carrier’s office at 31 Market St, Sydney by next week.
The triangular route will appease tourism authorities in both Victoria and NSW, who have both been vying for non-stop service to India for some time.
Should AI’s flights finally come to fruition, they will be a key support for Tourism Australia’s recently announced India 2020 Strategic Plan (TD 15 Jun).
AI previously flew to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in the 90s.
Over the last two months Air India suspended many of its key international routes – including New York, Paris and Chicago – due to a now-resolved pilot’s strike.
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