Petition for direct flight to India gaining traction in North Texas

NORTH TEXAS – Venkat Mulukutla lives in Frisco and solely hardly ever sees his household again residence in Hyderabad, India. 

“Each two years I go to them,” he mentioned. 

He attributes this to the arduous journey required to get there, usually involving two to 3 layovers and over 20-hour journey days. 

He claims it is an issue for a lot of who’ve migrated right here.

“They’re very lengthy days,” he mentioned.

In accordance with U.S. Census Bureau information, Texas’ Asian Indian inhabitants has exploded within the final a number of years, rating because the second most populated state within the nation. 

The most recent proof is the Main League Cricket stadium that simply opened final yr in Grand Prairie, which has hosted sold-out crowds. 

Venkat mentioned he believes many would profit from direct flights residence.

That is why it is laborious to imagine that Air India, an airline that boasts to be the flag service of the nation with the biggest worldwide community, would not fly out of DFW Airport. 

“Air India wants to have a look at the inhabitants and function their airline accordingly,” he mentioned.

For context, Air India affords direct flights from New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. 

Within the case of a DFW buyer, they may connect with an Air India flight by way of any of these stops. 

However extra doubtless, they’d additionally must take a cease in Europe or Dubai earlier than lastly arriving in India.

Venkat examined his principle with an on-line petition for Air India so as to add a direct flight from Dallas to Hyderabad, and to date, just a few thousand have signed.

Hyderabad’s airport, Rajiv Gandhi Worldwide, is the second-fastest-growing in India, whereas DFW Airport has seen related development.

So, why not join the 2? Each Air India and DFW Airport officers had no remark.

Folks we spoke to at Dallas-Fort Price’s worldwide terminal agree it could be helpful to the inhabitants. 

“Sure, after all. We’ve so many older folks touring, and there are language obstacles,” mentioned Haresh Patel.

Our analysis reveals DFW to Hyderabad is roughly 8,900 miles, about the identical as DFW to Melbourne. Dallas to Melbourne is DFW’s longest recurrently scheduled business flight. 

Hypothesis has grown on-line that Air India plans to increase its operations into DFW someday this yr, although the corporate wouldn’t affirm.

And although the petition is for this particular flight route, Venkat says he’d simply be completely happy if Air India flew out of Dallas-Fort Price in any respect.

He hopes extra signatures can present Air India simply how many individuals in North Texas care. 

“That is one thing that folks have of their hearts, within the Indian inhabitants round this city,” he mentioned.