Poor demand forces Air India to discontinue direct flight between Mumbai and New York

Debt-laden national carrier, Air India (AI) has decided to discontinue direct flight between Mumbai and New York's John F Kennedy airport. The airline started operating direct flights between Mumbai and New York in December 2018.

Reports claim, plying between Mumbai and New York has been causing losses to the airline. AI operated three flights per week between Mumbai and New York.

The flight was suspended by the carrier in February owing to closure of Pakistan airspace and was expected to be resumed in June. However, AI spokesperson said that they "won't be resuming the services, owing to poor load factor or low seat occupancy."

Air India - which operates direct flights from New Delhi to New York as well - has not included the flight in the winter schedule, according to HT. Flight from the nation capital to the big apple have been witnessing up to 80% seat occupancy.

Since the closure of Pakistan Airspace, US-bound Indian flights have been witnessing a surge in flying time, with the route being diverted to avoid any breach of Pakistan Air Space. The closure has been pushing the cost of operating flights for airlines.

AI uses Boeing B777-ER aircraft to operate flights from New Delhi to Newark, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco.