Air India will launch four weekly non-stop flights between Delhi and Osaka from February 2, 2027, becoming the only airline to operate directly on the route and expanding its presence in Japan amid rising demand for travel between India and the East Asian country.
The new service to Kansai International Airport will be operated using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, strengthening air connectivity between the two countries as tourism, business travel and economic ties gain momentum.
The launch will make Osaka Air India’s second destination in Japan after Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The airline currently operates daily flights between Delhi and Tokyo and four weekly services between Mumbai and Tokyo.
The expansion comes as Japan gains popularity among Indian travellers, with more than 315,000 Indians visiting the country in 2025, a 35% increase over 2024 and nearly 80% above pre-pandemic levels, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Capitalising on Japan’s tourism boom
The new route gives Air India access to Osaka, the centre of Japan’s Kansai region and a major gateway to destinations such as Kyoto and Nara.
For the airline, the launch represents an opportunity to tap into growing demand for leisure travel while catering to business passengers benefiting from closer commercial ties between India and Japan.
Japan’s appeal among Indian tourists extends beyond Tokyo to its historic cities, culinary attractions and cultural experiences. Osaka, in particular, offers access to the popular Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka tourist circuit, often referred to as Japan’s Golden Route.
The increase in Indian visitor numbers also points to a broader opportunity for airlines to expand capacity on routes serving destinations beyond traditional international travel hubs.
Air India’s decision to introduce a direct Delhi-Osaka connection could reduce travel time and eliminate the need for passengers to connect through other cities, potentially making Japan more accessible to Indian travellers.
Aircraft capacity and flight schedules
Air India will deploy its Boeing 787-8 aircraft on the route, featuring 18 full-flat beds in Business Class and 241 seats in Economy Class.
Flight AI360 will depart Delhi late in the evening and arrive in Osaka the following morning. The return service, AI359, will leave Osaka late in the morning and reach Delhi the same evening.
The schedule is designed to provide convenient connections to destinations across Air India’s domestic and international networks.
The new service will also allow passengers to book open-jaw itineraries, flying into Osaka and returning from Tokyo, or vice versa. Such itineraries can help travellers explore multiple Japanese destinations without having to retrace their journey to the original arrival city.
Bookings are being progressively opened through Air India’s website, mobile application, customer contact centre, airport ticketing offices and travel agents.
Competition and connectivity
By becoming the only airline operating non-stop flights between Delhi and Osaka, Air India will have a direct presence on a route without competing non-stop services from other airlines.
The commercial opportunity will depend on how effectively the airline converts rising travel interest into sustained passenger demand. Business traffic, tourism seasonality, fares and the availability of convenient onward connections will influence the route’s performance.
For passengers, the direct connection offers a new option for travelling between India’s capital and Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area.
For Air India, the launch forms part of its broader effort to strengthen international connectivity and build its network around markets with growing passenger and commercial links to India.
With Indian visitor numbers to Japan rising sharply, the Delhi-Osaka route gives the airline an opportunity to capture a larger share of the expanding travel market while improving access to one of Japan’s major economic and tourism centres