In a recent announcement, Air India revealed its plans to initiate a non-stop flight service connecting Mumbai to Melbourne in Australia starting from December 15. This strategic move is a significant step in the airline’s global route network expansion.
The new route will witness flight operations three times a week, contributing an impressive addition of almost 40,000 seats annually to the state of Victoria, Australia, according to a statement released by Air India.
Air India has reinforced its presence in the Australia-India travel corridor by operating daily flights to Melbourne and Sydney from Delhi, with a frequency of 28 flights per week. This development caters to the needs of over 200,000 members of the Indian diaspora residing in Victoria State, constituting approximately 40 per cent of the total Indian diaspora in Australia, according to information provided by a private airline.
The introduction of these new services is a direct response to the escalating demand for travel, both for personal reasons, such as visiting friends and relatives, as well as for business and leisure purposes in the region.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India expressed enthusiasm about this expansion, stating, “We look forward to launching the only non-stop flight between Mumbai and Melbourne. This is a great step forward in our ongoing transformation program, which, among other aspects, aims at connecting India to more of the world with non-stop flights.”
Moreover, Air India aims to facilitate seamless travel for passengers from 17 major Indian cities, offering convenient one-stop connections to and from Melbourne via Delhi or Mumbai. This initiative stands as part of the airline’s broader mission to enhance global connectivity and streamline international travel experiences for its passengers.
Air India’s upcoming Mumbai-Melbourne route will be serviced by their Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, offering a comfortable two-class configuration. The flight will feature 18 flat beds in the business class and 238 seats in the economy class. This setup aims to facilitate seamless two-way travel connectivity not only between Mumbai and Melbourne but also between London Heathrow and Melbourne via Delhi and Mumbai, as stated by Air India.
Natalie Hutchins, Minister for Jobs and Industry in the Victoria State Government, Australia, expressed excitement about the introduction of the direct Mumbai-Melbourne flights. She highlighted the potential benefits this development could bring to the region, stating, “We’re very excited that the first direct flights from Mumbai to Australia will land in Melbourne. This new route will boost tourism, create local jobs, and open more pathways for Victorian businesses to reach one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.”
On February 21, 2022, following the reopening of Australian borders to the world after a hiatus of almost two years, the Indian community appealed to industry stakeholders and leaders from both nations to initiate direct flights between Mumbai and Sydney.
A petition, hosted on change.org, was launched, urging the aviation industry and officials from India and Australia to establish non-stop flight services connecting Sydney and Mumbai.
“The lack of a direct flight between the bustling city of Mumbai and Sydney was a significant concern. Moreover, regions in western and southwestern India, including Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, had no direct flights to Sydney. Existing flight options necessitated at least one layover, resulting in travel durations spanning 20 to 30 hours each way, proving to be both costly and time-consuming,” stated the petition, initiated by Ankit Agarwal.
Prior to Air India’s launch of direct flights from Mumbai to Melbourne on December 15, 2023, the only other option available to the public was to fly with Qantas Airways. Qantas has been offering direct flights on this route since 2018, with a flight time of approximately 13 hours and 30 minutes.
All other airlines flying between Mumbai and Melbourne required at least one stop, with a typical travel time of 10 to 15 hours, depending on the length of the layover.
