Air India to take polar route on long haul flights

Long haul operations by Air India are likely to be initiated via the polar routes.  Air India is reportedly planning to file an application with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to fly the transpolar route.

DGCA officials have been however been quoted as saying that air traffic control facilities in the polar region are very limited and can handle only few planes at a time. Meanwhile, aviation sector analysts said that the polar route may be considered the most desirable and feasible for long haul operations. At present, only few US carriers fly a handful of times a week between the Midwest and the Far East using the transpolar route.

It has been pointed out by experts that by using the transpolar route, Air India could save two to two-and-a-half hours of time. That is something that makes sense for all airlines, as they are facing a crisis worldwide due to high oil prices.

Flying over the pole is the most practical operational route between cities as far-flung as New York and Delhi for Air India. Air India plans to start operations from Delhi to the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York if it receives the necessary regulatory nod in this regard.

It may be recalled that last July, Air India had became the first Indian airline to fly over the North Pole while ferrying a new Boeing from the Boeing headquarters in Seattle to Delhi.

If the polar route long haul dreams materialize, the state-owned carrier will not just save time but also end up with some savings on the use of aviation fuel.