United Airlines drops Bangalore, adds 2nd New Delhi flight from NYC
United Airlines is making some big changes to its India route network.
It starts with dropping plans to serve Bangalore, a hotly anticipated route that was supposed to originally launch in spring 2021.
The airline has postponed the San Francisco-to-Bangalore route multiple times since it was announced in September 2020, but now the route is getting cut entirely before it even starts, Cirium schedules show.
A United spokesperson confirmed to TPG that the airline will abandon plans to serve Bangalore — a city some people call the Silicon Valley of India.
Along with dropping Bangalore, United will shift its existing routes to New Delhi.
Last winter season, the airline flew there from Chicago and Newark. Back in 2022, it served New Delhi from San Francisco as well.
Originally, United was planning three routes to New Delhi for this upcoming winter, but that plan changed over the weekend, according to Cirium schedules.
Instead of offering daily service from Chicago and Newark during the winter, United will consolidate to two daily flights from Newark. (The daily San Francisco route is unaffected.)
The twice-daily flights from Newark to New Delhi will commence on Oct. 28 and run through March 29, 2024. They'll operate with the following schedule going eastbound:
- United Flight 816 departs Newark at 9:40 a.m. and arrives in New Delhi at 10:10 a.m. the next day.
- United Flight 82 departs Newark at 10:15 p.m. and arrives in New Delhi at 9:50 p.m. the next day.
In the previous schedule, United's Chicago and Newark flights both departed in the evening. So, consolidating service to Newark allows the airline to offer two different flight times that will likely appeal to different types of travelers.
All United's routes to New Delhi are operated by 257-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring Polaris business class, Premium Plus, Economy Plus and economy cabins.
United is the largest U.S. carrier serving India. Delta Air Lines doesn't currently fly to the country, and American operates just a single daily route from New York to New Delhi.
Meanwhile, United offers multiple daily flights to New Delhi, while service to Mumbai is currently suspended due to the war in Ukraine (but slated to restarted in the winter).
Bangalore was a route that United announced during the depths of the pandemic in September 2020. Some industry observers thought the move was in response to American's plan to also add Bangalore service — an announcement that came in February 2020 as part of bigger plans to turn Seattle into a West Coast international gateway hub.
American never ended up launching flights from Seattle to Bangalore, and the carrier doesn't currently have plans to fly to this Indian business hub.
It seems that the slow return of corporate business travel (especially from the likes of Microsoft, Apple and other big tech companies), as well as the Russian invasion and subsequent war in Ukraine, and the corresponding airspace closures mean the West Coast to Bangalore flights may no longer be commercially feasible. (United declined to comment about the route changes.)
If you want to fly nonstop from the U.S. to Bangalore, Indian flag carrier Air India currently offers thrice weekly flights from San Francisco aboard the Boeing 777-200LR, or long-range, aircraft.
Related reading:
- 6 things you need to know about United Airlines MileagePlus
- The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers
- What is United Airlines elite status worth?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- How to survive basic economy on United Airlines
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees