Air India to launch direct flights from Mumbai to Melbourne from Dec 15

It's the first time an airline has offered non-stop service between Mumbai and Australia in more than 40 years.

In collaboration with Air India, the Allan Labor government of Victoria is launching a flight route from Mumbai to Melbourne, paving the way for more tourists and students to the Australian state, increasing investment opportunities and creating hundreds of jobs.

Natalie Hutchins, Minister for Jobs and Industry, announced o October 31 that Air India will operate non-stop flights from Mumbai to Melbourne from December 15, adding 40,000 seats a year.

It's the first time an airline has offered non-stop service between Mumbai and an Australian city in more than 40 years. As a result of the Labor government's support for the Air India flights through Melbourne Airport, the Victorian economy will generate $55 million each year and 264 jobs will be created in the aviation and tourism sectors.

New Delhi to Melbourne is served seven times a week by Air India. With the new flight route, Victoria will be able to connect to India, which is expected to become the third largest economy in the world by 2030.

Victoria is already a popular tourist destination for Indians, and the direct flights will make it even easier for more people to visit. 149,000 Indians visited Victoria last year.

As of 2022, there will be around 53,000 international students enrolled in Victorian institutions, making the state a key study destination for Indian students.

As a result of the new flights, more than 1,800 tonnes of air freight will be flown from Victoria to Mumbai. In the past financial year, air freight exports to India totalled 368 tonnes worth $33 million, making India one of the fastest-growing export markets.

The Labor government has supported an increasing number of international airlines expanding flights to Melbourne, including LATAM Airways, Cathay Pacific, Scoot, China Southern and Sichuan Airlines.

“We’re very excited that the first direct flights from Mumbai to Australia will land in Melbourne. This new route will boost tourism, create local jobs and open more pathways for Victorian businesses to reach one of the world’s fastest growing economies,” Hutchins said.

“In recent months Melbourne Airport has seen record numbers of Indian visitors travelling through the terminals, and this new service will make it even easier for families to reconnect and for tourists and students to explore our great state,” Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said.

Air India Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer Nipun Aggarwal, said, “We look forward to launching the only non-stop flight between Mumbai and Melbourne. This is a great step forward in our ongoing transformational programme, which among other aspects aims at connecting India to more of the world with non-stop flights.”