Air India to launch Tel Aviv-New Delhi flights in March

Air India will launch flights between Tel Aviv and New Delhi next month. The Indian national carrier will operate weekly flights from March 20 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Air India had planned to launch the route last year but abandoned the idea as uneconomical after Saudi Arabia refused to allow the flights to go over its territory, making a five-hour flight an eight-hour flight.

However, the plan was revived after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India last month. Air India will receive a $750,000 grants from Israel’s Tourism Ministry for opening the route, Yediot Aharonot reported.

Currently, the only direct route between Israel and India is operated by El Al Israel Airlines, which flies from Tel Aviv to Mumbai.