Air India is now offering three weekly nonstop, roundtrip flights between Indira Gandhi International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). It is the first-ever nonstop flights connecting the National Capital Region and Delhi, India.
The inaugural flight was held on Friday, July 7. “This inaugural launch highlights our work with the international community to drive business and tourism to the D.C. region,” said District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser.
According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates IAD, international visitation between India and the Washington, D.C., area is expected to double by 2025, The new flight service between IAD and Delhi is also estimated to bring in an additional 30,000 leisure and business travelers and $30 million in total economic impact annually to the National Capital Region.
“According to Travel Market Insights, visitation from India to D.C. has grown 40 percent since 2013, and 70 percent to the region,” said Elliott Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital. “We’re excited about the potential for even more Indian business and leisure travelers to experience Washington D.C.’s dynamic neighborhoods and free attractions as well as the diverse experiences throughout the capital region.”
“Serving 7.5 million international travelers annually with nonstop service to more than 50 international destinations in more than 40 countries, Dulles International Airport is the region’s gateway to the world,” said Margaret McKeough, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Airports Authority. “Air India’s service launch adds our 33rd capital-to-capital connection—linking the world’s oldest democracy with the world’s largest democracy.”
For more information on traveling to India, visit incredibleindia.org.
