Delta is connecting the financial and cultural powerhouses of the United States and India with nonstop daily service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Mumbai starting Dec. 22.

“With the fastest-growing trillion-dollar economy in the world, India is a global commercial force, and we are thrilled to make our long-anticipated return for travelers whose demand for this service has increased significantly in the last decade,” said Dwight James, Senior Vice President — International Pricing; Revenue Management. “Since we last flew to India in 2015, customers will discover a new Delta, with a reinvented on-board experience, new cabins, improved airport facilities and other major investments in all parts of the travel journey.”

A festive sight awaited customers traveling on Delta’s first flight to Mumbai on Sunday night from New York-JFK. Colorful decorations adorned the gate area at B38 in Terminal 4, and dozens of Delta people from Team JFK dressed up in traditional Indian attire. Customers munched on Indian sweets and snacks as they watched performances from a Tasa band and accompanying dancers, who engaged crowds of hundreds passing through the terminal on a busy evening.

Prior to boarding, Stephanie Baldwin, Vice President-JFK Operations; Chuck Imhof, Vice President-New York; and Rahul Samant, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, thanked employees and customers, and explained what made this new route so special. For Samant, it was an emotional milestone, he said, as Delta now connects his adopted homeland with his city of birth in India.

Demand for better connectivity between U.S. and India

The JFK-Mumbai flight is operated out of Delta's premier international gateway, Terminal 4 at New York-JFK and offers convenient connections from more than 50 Indian-American communities throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America.

For business travelers, the service offers more convenience and options as New York is the largest U.S. market to India with the largest base of corporate customers. The United States also recently took the top spot as India’s largest goods trading partner, affirming the importance of a nonstop direct link for go-getters with little time to waste.

Furthermore, New York City is home to the largest Indian-American population among U.S. metropolitan areas, further cementing the city as the perfect connector.

And for vacationers and thrill-seekers looking for their favorite new destination, Mumbai offers unforgettable sights and sounds to discover in the City of Dreams.

Newly remodeled Boeing 777-200LR to service route

Customers will enjoy several seat product offerings that fit their budget and style on the newly-modified Boeing 777, including the award-winning Delta One suite, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin. Delta recently launched an elevated international Main Cabin experience, designed to delight with welcome cocktails, bistro-style dining with mix-and-match appetizers and larger entrees, and more.

In addition to the industry-leading service and operational reliability for which Delta is known, all customers traveling on the Boeing 777-200LR will enjoy:

• Seatback entertainment screens with Delta Studio and thousands of hours of content — free across all cabins, including movies from Bollywood and Hollywood
• Gogo Ku Wi-Fi connectivity and access to free mobile messaging while on board through iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger
• Full-spectrum LED ambient lighting
• Local cuisine, plus Masala Chai

Learn more about Delta’s upgraded, premium onboard experience sure to wow all customers no matter where they’re seated.

Premier airport experience at New York-JFK

Delta has invested heavily in the airport experience at JFK, where T4 international customers can enjoy New York favorite dining spots, a flagship Delta Sky Club soon to feature additional seating, a reimagined food area, and a retractable roof for its signature outdoor Sky Deck.

Delta also recently launched its first biometric boarding gates at the terminal, giving customers traveling direct to Mumbai the option of boarding a flight using facial recognition technology rather than scanning a boarding pass and showing a passport. And Terminal 4 is a valued partner in sustainability: for example, every restaurant in the facility composts, and new water-saving technologies have cut down on usage by 1/3 – saving 20 million gallons each year.

Delta has grown its presence in New York City by over 65 percent in the last 10 years and today offers more than 200 daily departures from its global gateway at JFK to more than 80 destinations in 32 countries. Learn more why Delta selected JFK for its Mumbai resurgence.

Daily flight service

The Mumbai-New York-JFK flight schedule will operate as follows:

Inaugural flight celebration

 A festive sight awaited customers traveling on Delta's first flight to Mumbai on Sunday night from New York-JFK. Colorful decorations adorned the gate area at B38 in Terminal 4, and dozens of Delta people from Team JFK dressed up in traditional Indian attire. Customers munched on Indian sweets and snacks as they watched performances from a Tasa band and accompanying dancers, who engaged crowds of hundreds passing through the terminal on a busy evening. Prior to boarding, Stephanie Baldwin, Vice President-JFK Operations; Chuck Imhof, Vice President-New York; and Rahul Samant, E.V.P. and Chief Information Officer thanked employees and customers alike and explained what made this new route so special. For Samant, it was an emotional milestone, he said, as Delta now connects his adopted homeland with his city of birth in India. ​

Photo: Gate ceremony celebrating JFK-BOM service launch, with Chief Information Officer Rahul Samant and Delta employees