Delta will launch service connecting New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport with Mumbai beginning Dec. 22. This route establishes a link between the financial capitals of two large trade partners and boosts competition, choice and options for customers traveling between the United States and India.

"Delta's nonstop service between New York and Mumbai is the latest example of our international growth as we strive to connect the world better than any other airline," said Ed Bastian, Delta's Chief Executive Officer. "This route would not be possible without the administration's ongoing efforts to enforce fair competition in international travel, ensuring that consumers enjoy a wide range of choices as they travel the globe."

Improved connectivity between U.S. and India benefits communities in both countries

The JFK-Mumbai flight will be operated out of Delta's premier international gateway at New York-JFK, and will offer convenient connections from more than 50 communities throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. Demand for flights between the U.S. and India has increased significantly in the last decade, and New York is the largest U.S. market to India with the largest base of corporate customers.

Delta first offered service between the U.S. and Mumbai beginning in 2006, but was forced to suspend the service in 2009 as illegally subsidized Middle East carriers made the route untenable.

"Subsidies pose a serious threat to American workers," said Peter Carter, Delta's Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. "Every long-haul route lost or foregone to subsidized Middle East carrier competition costs more than 1,500 American jobs, so we are pleased to bring this route back into service thanks to landmark agreements the Trump administration reached with Qatar and the U.A.E."

New route adds even more international options for New York's No. 1 airline

Delta has grown its presence in New York City by over 65 percent in the last 10 years and today operates more than 500 peak-day departures from its hubs at LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport – including more than 200 daily departures from JFK, where Delta and its partners serve 43 international destinations in 32 countries.

Delta recently announced plans to add new service to London's Gatwick Airport in 2020, along with joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic. Delta has also announced a second daily flight from JFK to Tel Aviv and a second daily flight from JFK to Paris beginning this summer, along with a third flight from JFK to Amsterdam that will begin in October 2019.

In recent years, Delta has added nonstop service from JFK to new destinations including The Azores, Portugal; Lagos, Nigeria; and San Jose, Calif. The airline unveiled its $1.2 billion, state-of-the-art international gateway at JFK's Terminal 4 in 2013.

Delta has made significant investments to provide more consistency, comfort and convenience in the travel experience throughout all cabins of service on its flights to and from New York. Delta has added thousands more flights on new aircraft in the market and offers more seatback entertainment than any other airline.

Delta will fly newly renovated Boeing 777-200LR aircraft on the route

This aircraft features award-winning Delta One suite, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort + and Main Cabin options for customers. In addition to the industry-leading service and operational reliability for which Delta is known, all customers traveling on the Boeing 777-200LR will enjoy:

• Seatback entertainment screens with Delta Studio and thousands of hours of content — free across all cabins

• Gogo Ku Wi-Fi connectivity and access to free mobile messaging while on board through iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger

• Full-spectrum LED ambient lighting

The flight will operate year-round from with the following schedule:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM