DALLAS- In early March, frequent flyers with Air India (AI), owned by the Tata Group, became frustrated with the lack of flight options out of Dallas (DFW), a crucial destination for many. In response, they petitioned the airline to establish a route to this city.
Although travelers have previously petitioned airlines for improvements such as better change policies, accommodations for plus-size passengers, and increased transparency regarding passenger entitlements during delays, requests to add routes to specific airports are relatively uncommon. Typically, such appeals are reserved for smaller, underserved regions.
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Air India Dallas Flight
Venkat Mulukutla, a resident of Frisco, infrequently reunites with his family in Hyderabad, India. “I visit them once every two years,” he told CBS News. He attributes this infrequency to the challenging journey involved, typically requiring two to three layovers and spanning over 20 hours of travel time. He asserts that this is a widespread issue among migrants residing here. “Those are very lengthy days,” he remarked.
Venkat Mulukutla initiated a petition on Change.org urging Air India to launch a direct flight from Dallas to Hyderabad (HYD), India. The petition highlights the significance of the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex and its surrounding areas as a hub for Telugu speakers.
It notes that out of the 400 thousand Indians residing in DFW, a substantial portion, approximately 50-60%, are Telugu-speaking individuals. The petition emphasizes the frequent travel between the two regions, with Telugu students arriving in Dallas for studies and many Telugu families, including elderly parents, relocating to live with their children.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas has witnessed a significant surge in its Asian Indian population in recent years, making it the second most populous state in the nation. A recent example of this growth is the Major League Cricket stadium that opened in Grand Prairie last year, attracting sold-out crowds.
Venkat believes many individuals would benefit from direct flights to their home country. It’s perplexing to note that Air India, a carrier that prides itself as the nation’s flag carrier with the largest international network, does not operate flights out of DFW Airport.
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Demand for Dallas-Hyderabad Flight
Venkat emphasized the need for Air India to tailor its operations to accommodate the population.
To provide context, Air India currently offers direct flights from New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington D.C., and San Francisco.
Travelers originating from DFW can connect to an Air India flight at any of these stops. However, it’s more probable that they would need to make additional stops in Europe or Dubai before reaching their final destination in India.
Venkat decided to put his theory to the test by launching an online petition urging Air India to introduce a direct flight from Dallas to Hyderabad. Thus far, several thousand individuals have endorsed the petition.
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport ranks as the second-fastest-growing airport in India, mirroring the growth observed at DFW Airport.
Haresh Patel expressed agreement, stating, “Certainly. We have many elderly travelers, and language barriers can be challenging.”
According to CBS research, the distance from DFW to Hyderabad is approximately 8,900 miles, similar to that from DFW to Melbourne (MEL). The Dallas to Melbourne route is DFW’s longest regularly scheduled commercial flight.
Online speculation suggests that Air India may consider expanding its operations to include DFW sometime this year, although the company has not confirmed this.
Despite the petition’s focus on a specific flight route, Venkat emphasizes that he would be satisfied if Air India simply offered flights out of Dallas-Fort Worth. He hopes that accumulating more signatures will demonstrate to Air India the level of interest and support from the North Texas community.
“This is something deeply felt by the Indian population in this area,”
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