Air India to fly Delhi-Osaka non-stop from February 2, 2027, its second Japan city
Representative image: april_kim / Pixabay
Air India said on October 15, 2026 it will start four weekly non-stop Delhi-Osaka flights on Boeing 787-8s from February 2, 2027, the only direct service on the route.
What Happened
Air India announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026 that it will begin non-stop flights between Delhi and Osaka from February 2, 2027. The service will run four times a week to Kansai International Airport, using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, and Air India will be the only airline flying the route without a stop. Osaka will be the airline's second destination in Japan after Tokyo Haneda, which it already serves daily from Delhi. Bookings are being opened in stages across the airline's website and app, its contact centre, airport ticket offices and travel agents.
Key Facts
- Route: Delhi to Osaka (Kansai International Airport), non-stop, from February 2, 2027.
- Frequency: four flights a week in each direction.
- Outbound AI360: leaves Delhi at 22:50 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, landing in Osaka at 09:50 the next morning.
- Return AI359: leaves Osaka at 11:50 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, reaching Delhi at 18:20 the same day.
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 with 18 lie-flat Business seats and 241 Economy seats.
- Air India will be the only carrier flying Delhi-Osaka non-stop.
- Travellers can combine Osaka and Tokyo in one trip, flying into one city and back from the other.
Why It Matters
With no non-stop service on the route today, travellers between Delhi and Osaka have to change planes. A direct flight saves hours and removes a connection, which matters for families, older travellers and business visitors alike. Osaka's Kansai airport serves western Japan, and the new route makes it easier to plan a trip that starts in one part of Japan and ends in another.
The timings are built for Indian travellers. The overnight departure from Delhi lands in Osaka in the morning, giving visitors a full first day, and the late-morning return lands back in Delhi by early evening. The ability to fly into Osaka and leave from Tokyo, or the other way round, suits the classic 'Golden Route' itinerary across Japan's best-known cities, without doubling back.
For business travellers, engineers and students, a direct link between the national capital and Osaka is a faster option than a connection. For Air India, adding a second Japanese city to its daily Haneda service gives it more to sell in Japan, and on this city pair it will face no direct non-stop competitor.
| Air India Delhi-Osaka | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start date | February 2, 2027 |
| Frequency | 4 flights a week each way |
| Delhi departure (AI360) | 22:50, arrives Osaka 09:50 next day |
| Osaka departure (AI359) | 11:50, arrives Delhi 18:20 |
| Aircraft | Boeing 787-8 (18 Business, 241 Economy) |
Impact
Short-term: Travellers planning Japan holidays for early 2027, including the spring season, can now look at a direct option from Delhi as bookings open across Air India's channels.
Long-term: A non-stop link could lift tourism in both directions, help Indian students and professionals working in the Kansai region, and encourage other airlines to look at new India-Japan routes.
Who is affected: Indian tourists visiting Japan; Japanese visitors to India; business travellers between Delhi and western Japan; Indian students and workers in western Japan; and travel agents building Japan packages.
Key Takeaway
From February 2, 2027, Air India will offer the only non-stop flights between Delhi and Osaka, four times a week, giving Indian travellers a direct gateway to western Japan alongside its daily Tokyo service.
Questions and Answers
When do Air India's Delhi-Osaka flights start?
The non-stop service begins on February 2, 2027, with four flights a week in each direction between Delhi and Osaka's Kansai International Airport.
What are the Air India Delhi-Osaka flight timings?
AI360 leaves Delhi at 22:50 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and reaches Osaka at 09:50 the next day. AI359 leaves Osaka at 11:50 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and lands in Delhi at 18:20.
Which aircraft will fly the route?
Air India will use the Boeing 787-8, with 18 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 241 seats in Economy.
Can I fly into Osaka and return from Tokyo?
Yes. Air India allows travellers to arrive in one Japanese city and fly back from the other, combining its Osaka and Tokyo Haneda services in one trip.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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