Air India Is Betting India’s Japan Boom Needs a Second Door

Air India will launch nonstop service between Delhi and Osaka’s Kansai airport on February 2, 2027. It will be the only airline flying the route direct, with four flights a week on Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Osaka becomes the carrier’s second Japanese destination after Tokyo Haneda, which it serves daily from Delhi and four times weekly from Mumbai.

The aircraft is configured with 18 full-flat Business Class beds and 241 Economy seats. A nonstop link skips the connections through Southeast Asia or Tokyo that many travelers use today to reach Kansai, which serves Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. No fares were part of the cited announcement, so pricing will have to be checked once schedules open for booking.

The timing follows a surge in demand. Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization, cited in the report, shows more than 315,000 Indian visitors went to Japan in 2025, up 35 percent from 2024 and nearly 80 percent above pre-pandemic levels. Osaka’s food scene and proximity to Kyoto make it a natural second gateway for travelers who have already done Tokyo.

For travelers outside India, the route matters as a connection. Passengers flying into Delhi from elsewhere can now reach Kansai without changing planes beyond that hub, although onward itineraries will depend on how Air India times its schedule. Anyone planning cherry-blossom trips for spring 2027 should watch for booking to open, since a four-times-weekly service has limited seats.

Sources: Asian Aviation, Air India Newsroom