Air India to launch new flights to Hanoi and Tokyo as Asia network expands

From May 1, 2026, the airline will begin non-stop flights between Delhi and Hanoi, making the Vietnamese capital its second destination in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City.

A second new route will start on June 15, 2026, when the airline launches non-stop services between Mumbai and Tokyo Haneda Airport. The new flights will operate in addition to the airline’s existing Delhi–Tokyo (Haneda) service.

More travel options for Vietnam itineraries

The Delhi–Hanoi flights will operate five times a week, complementing the airline’s daily service to Ho Chi Minh City. Together, the routes allow travellers greater flexibility when planning trips to Vietnam, including open-jaw itineraries where passengers arrive in one city and depart from another.

Air India will operate the route using its Airbus A320neo aircraft, offering Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy seating. The new service will add 7,028 seats per month between India and Vietnam.

Flights to and from Vietnam will also provide onward connections to destinations across the airline’s domestic and international network, including the United Kingdom and other cities across Europe.

Additional capacity on Japan routes

The new Mumbai–Tokyo (Haneda) route will operate four times a week using the airline’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

Air India has recently increased the frequency of flights between Delhi and Tokyo (Haneda) from four weekly services to daily operations. From February 14, 2026, the route is also being served by the larger Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which introduces Premium Economy on the route for the first time.

Passengers travelling on these flights will have access to updated cabin interiors, modern inflight entertainment systems, onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, and revised meal and beverage offerings.

Air India also maintains a codeshare partnership with All Nippon Airways, a fellow member of Star Alliance. Through this partnership, passengers can connect from Tokyo Haneda to several Japanese cities including Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Since Air India’s privatisation, we have significantly grown our network across Southeast Asia and the Far East, having added several new routes, optimised flight schedules to enable convenient cross-continent connections, forged new partnerships with other carriers, and deploying upgraded cabin products progressively.”

He added: “Japan and Vietnam have both emerged as fast-growing destinations for Indian travellers, while India’s economic and commercial ties with both nations continue to deepen and present more opportunities for business and trade on both sides. The launch of these new routes supports this growth and strengthens our presence in the region.”

Japan and Vietnam see rising demand from Indian travellers

Japan has emerged as one of the fastest-growing international destinations for Indian travellers. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, more than 315,000 Indians visited Japan in 2025. This represents a 35 per cent increase compared with 2024 and nearly 80 per cent growth over pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, Vietnam continues to attract both leisure travellers and corporate groups, particularly for tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) events. The country recorded more than 20 million visitors in 2025, making it the third most visited destination in Southeast Asia.