15 October,2026 03:37 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Osaka will become Air India’s second destination in Japan after Tokyo Haneda. Representational Pic
Air India will launch non-stop flights between Delhi and Osaka from February 2, 2027, becoming the only airline to operate direct services on the route, the airline announced on Thursday.
The airline will operate four weekly flights between Delhi and Kansai International Airport in Osaka using its Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The new service aims to strengthen air connectivity between India and Japan amid growing demand for travel between the two countries.
Osaka will become Air India's second destination in Japan after Tokyo Haneda. The airline currently operates daily flights between Delhi and Tokyo, along with four weekly services between Mumbai and Tokyo.
The new service, flight AI360, will depart Delhi at 10.50 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving in Osaka at 9.50 am the following day.
The return service, AI359, will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It will depart Osaka at 11.50 am and arrive in Delhi at 6.20 pm on the same day.
All timings are local. Bookings for the new route are being progressively opened through Air India's official website, mobile app, customer contact centre, airport ticketing offices and travel agents worldwide.
The new route will allow travellers to book open-jaw itineraries, flying into Osaka and returning from Tokyo, or vice versa. This option is expected to benefit Indian tourists planning multi-city trips across Japan.
Osaka is a key stop on Japan's popular Golden Route, which also includes Tokyo and Kyoto. Air India said the service would cater to growing interest among Indian travellers in Japan's tourism, cultural and culinary experiences, alongside deepening business ties between the two countries.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft deployed on the route will feature 18 full-flat beds in Business Class and 241 seats in Economy Class.
Japan is gaining popularity among Indian travellers. More than 315,000 Indians visited the country in 2025, marking a 35 per cent increase over 2024 and nearly 80 per cent growth compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).
The increase has been driven by growing interest in Japan's leisure, cultural and culinary experiences, as well as stronger business and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The Air India Group comprises full-service carrier Air India and value carrier Air India Express. The group employs more than 30,000 people and operates over 300 aircraft, serving 60 domestic and 51 international destinations across five continents, according to the airline.
After returning to Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under government ownership, Air India launched its five-year transformation programme, Vihaan.AI. As part of the programme, the airline has placed orders for 600 new aircraft and is progressively retrofitting its legacy fleet.
The group also operates an aviation training academy in Gurugram and is developing a new flying school and a greenfield maintenance base.
