Discover India With American Airlines Nonstop Flight To Delhi
Delhi's vibrant history offers many ancient treasures for the visitor's delight. As the cosmopolitan capital city of India grows into a commercial powerhouse, it continues to add rich monuments and incorporate several national and cultural festivals to create a lively and colorful destination. Raj Sidhu, Account Executive, Asia/Pacific Sales, American Airlines (AA), during an exclusive interview told this writer.
"The nonstop flight from Chicago to Delhi just enables one to discover this. Fly to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on the American Airlines spacious 236-seat 777 aircraft nonstop from Chicago, with convenient schedules to and from your hometown," he added. The nearly 7,500-mile flight departs daily from Chicago at 7:20 p.m to arrive at 9:35 p.m in New Delhi. And the return flight from New Delhi departs at 12:55 a.m. (local time) and arrives into Chicago at 5:15 a.m."
American has taken every effort to make the journey as comfortable and memorable to its India-bound customers. "You'll enjoy a special menu that features Indian, Indian-inspired vegetarian, and Western meal selections," said Sidhu. "Also, in addition to our more traditional entertainment programming, travelers will be able to enjoy films from Bollywood - the Indian film industry - in Hindi with English subtitles," he explained.
New Delhi has so much to offer to its millions of visitors from around the world. New Delhi is a noted center of performing arts, so "you can enjoy an evening dining on the spicy Punjabi cuisine and relaxing with a theatre performance. Afterwards, find a bakery and try Bengali Sandesh, a popular dessert. While you're there take a few days to tour the many temples of the area including the serene Taj Mahal and the Lotus Temple, a symbol of Delhi's religious tolerance and unity that welcomes more than 50 million visitors annually. Be sure to visit Chandni Chowk, a three century old shopping area, as it is one of the most famous commercial areas in India," Sishu went on to elaborate.
For travellers going beyond Delhi, AA has arranged with Jet Airways allowing a smooth transition from Delhi to almost all towns and cities around India. American Airlines code shares on Jet Airways flights operating between Delhi, India and Ahmedabad, Bangalore (Bengaluru), Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta), and Mumbai (Bombay); and between Brussels, Belgium and Chennai (Madras), Delhi, and Mumbai. Sidhu, however cautioned that upon arrival at Delhi International Terminal 2, "passengers must first clear India Immigrations. Passengers will then collect their checked baggage and proceed to the India Customs and Immigration Hall for processing. Once cleared, passengers will proceed to the Jet Airways transfer desk where checked baggage will be collected and transported by Jet Airways to the departure flight in Domestic Terminal 1. The Jet Airways transfer desk will also issue connecting boarding passes if these have not already been issued by American Airlines during initial check-in at the originating airport."
Passengers will then be directed to either take a taxi or the Delhi Inter-Airport Bus (DIAL) for transport to the Domestic Terminal 1. Passengers making an immediate connection beyond Delhi (to a domestic India destination) will not need to re-check in with Jet Airways check in counters at the Domestic Terminal 1. Instead, passengers may proceed through the Security Check Point and proceed directly to the departure gate.
Sidhu said, "On a Boeing 777, American Airlines is currently transitioning from an analog tape based system to an audio/video on demand digital system. During the transition on our analog B777 aircraft you will enjoy a personal video monitor with 10 channels of programming. In First Class on the B777, you can also enjoy a personal video player with up to 20 additional movie selections. On our digital B777 aircraft you will enjoy a personal video monitor with a wide variety of movies, TV and short subject programming.
"Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, American Airlines wants to make sure your travel experience is as enjoyable as possible. We've compiled helpful information to help you breeze through the airport as well as some additional information to guide you through your journey," Sidhu added.
AA has sought to encourage passengers to support noble and worthy causes. Since 1994, American Airlines has participated in the Change for Good® program by partnering with UNICEF to collect U.S. and foreign currency from customers aboard select international flights. American Airlines passengers have donated well over $2 million to date, and together with the oneworld® Alliance partners, the Change for Good program has collected over $60 million to provide lifesaving medicine and immunizations, nutrition, clean water, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, and assistance in humanitarian emergencies.
On the morning of April 15, 1926, a young aviator named Charles A. Lindbergh stowed a bag of mail in his little DH-4 biplane and took off from Chicago for St. Louis. Later that day, he and two other pilots flew three plane loads of mail from St. Louis to Chicago. At the time, Lindbergh was chief pilot of Robertson Aircraft Corporation of Missouri, which was the second aviation company to hold a U.S. airmail contract. It was one of scores of companies that eventually consolidated to form the modern-day American Airlines.
The consolidation began in 1929, when The Aviation Corporation was formed to acquire young aviation companies, including Robertson. In 1930, The Aviation Corporation's airline subsidiaries were incorporated into American Airways, Inc In 1934, American Airways became American Airlines, Inc.
On June 25, 1936, American was the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service. By the end of the decade, American was the nation's number one domestic air carrier in terms of revenue passenger miles. On Feb. 16, 1937, American carried its one-millionth passenger. Since then it has been a rather long journey for AA, serving billions of passengers, carrying them around the globe safely and comfortably, enabling them to have a rich and varied experience of the world and its diverse cultures.
- BY AJAY GHOSH
