The winter schedule for Indian airlines has seen a notable focus on routes connecting destinations across the country and abroad. Among these, the shortest domestic route is between Delhi and Dehradun, operated by Air India, covering 2,481 km with multiple weekly flights. Conversely, the longest international route from India is operated by Air India, connecting San Francisco and Kolkata for a distance of 12,594 km, with the route visiting Kolkata as a technical stop due to airspace restrictions over Pakistan.
In terms of regional flights, Port Blair has experienced a 20% increase in capacity, with Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express, expanding services between Delhi and Port Blair, which is India’s longest domestic flight. Additionally, the shortest international flight is operated by Druk Air between Bagdogra and Paro, spanning just 137 km.
Domestic and Regional Flight Details
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, operates its longest flight between Bengaluru and Srinagar, covering 2,320 km, while its shortest flight on its Airbus fleet is between Kochi and Kozhikode, a 119 km route operated once daily in 45 minutes. The airline’s ATR fleet operates shorter routes such as Kochi to Kozhikode, while its ATR 72-600 models also serve the shortest routes operated by other airlines, including Alliance Air and SpiceJet.
"As the page shifted from summer to winter schedules, airline capacities realigned towards winter destinations, with Port Blair leading the increase," said aviation analyst Ameya Joshi.
Internationally, beyond the San Francisco to Kolkata route, the longest international flight from India by a foreign carrier is operated by United Airlines from Newark to Delhi, covering 11,783 km with a technical stop at Delhi. The article also highlights the airline network's adaptation to seasonal demand and ongoing capacity enhancements amidst changing travel patterns.
