Air India to resume non-stop flights to US

The announcement comes days after services were grounded due to volcanic plumes that made air-traffic impossible in European airspace.

Boeing 777-200 LR flights will operate through alternative routes owing to the closure of the European airspace, a statement released here said.

As there is a backlog of passengers due to flight cancellations over the past few days, the company has asked passengers to make enquiries with its call centres before proceeding to the airport.

The airline has set up a dedicated team of officers at Delhi and Mumbai airports to assist stranded passengers for re-booking of flights, transfer to other airlines and cancellation of tickets, it said.

“Every effort is being made to resume normalcy in operations within the shortest possible time,” the statement said.

The European airspace has remained closed for days following the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Meanwhile, the director-general of civil aviation has given the green signal to Jet Airways to resume its flights to and from the US and Canada via Athens in Greece from Monday, an official said here.

The airlines plans to operate flights via Greece from Mumbai and New Delhi to help stranded passengers reach their destinations in northern America.

The route chosen would avoid the volcanic ash that is currently affecting European airspace, the spokesperson said.

Soon after the closure of London Heathrow and Brussels Airports due to volcanic eruptions in Iceland, Jet Airways worked closely with the relevant authorities to evaluate the possibility of operating flights to and from the US and Canada via an alternate technical transit point in Europe.

The airline also plans to resume flights to London and Brussels as soon as London Heathrow and Brussels airports re-open, the spokesperson said Sunday evening.