Well, this is definitely a unique trip report. With very few exceptions, service from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to San Francisco has been both non-stop and operated just about exclusively by the 777-200LR. However, due to geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, the latter’s airspace is closed to the former. In order to fly non-stop to BOM and BLR from SFO, Air India has to fly through Pakistani airspace, due to flying over the Himalayas being a no-go.
So where does the 777-300ER factor into this? Well, earlier this year, Air India retired the last of its original order of 777-200LRs, and of the 5 it has leased from Delta Air Lines, 2 have been withdrawn for maintainence, with the whole fleet being returned to its lessor next year. This leaves only 3 active examples of the type, all flown from Delhi. With the A350-900 fleet being used primarily from the Indian capital as well, and the 787-9 and A350-1000 having yet to enter service, the task falls upon the 777-300ER, which lacks the range to fly to Mumbai and Bengaluru non-stop from San Francisco, necessitating a fuel stop in Kolkata.
Server: Solo
Airline: Air India
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Origin: San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California (SFO)
Stopover: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Dum Dum, India (CCU)
Destination: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, India (BOM)
Flight Number: AI180
Route: KSFO-VECC-VABB
Seat: 14K (Business)
Time En Route: 17 Hours 1 Minute
Walking to Gate G2 at SFO for the long flight to West Bengal. Our aircraft tonight is a 15.4 year-old 777-300ER registered as VT-ALT and named Nagaland.
Starting our pushback. With a few exceptions, San Francisco has been the exclusive domain of the 777-200LR for Air India.
Taxiing by the F Gates on our way to Runway 28L for takeoff. We’re in Air India’s business class, which on the 777s at least has been pretty hit-or-miss, with complaints of inoperative IFE systems, seat recliner, and poor service relative to price point being not infrequent complaints. However, the 777s are beginning to undergo a comprehensive interior refurbishment and company practices are being overhauled under Tata Group ownership, so AI will hopefully return to its former glory.
Takeoff and climbout from SFO, with OAK, Mount Sutro, and Downtown San Francisco being visible
Cruising at 30,000 feet over the Arctic Ocean. With the exception of a temperamental IFE system remote, which shouldn’t be too surprising on an aircraft almost old enough to vote belonging to a frequently cash-strapped airline, amenities and service have been pretty good so far. While it’s no QSuite, JAL Sky Suite, or Aria, it’s certainly much better than what some of the horror stories à la China Eastern Airlines back in the day lead one to expect.
In cruise over northern Siberia and some of the most remote parts of Russia as we head south to Irkutsk
Starting our descent over Bangladesh after a decent sleep from Irkutsk down through Mongolia and China
Landing in Kolkata after just over 17 hours in the air
Deplaned at Gate 55 at CCU and getting ready to go clear customs before reboarding for the short hop, compared to what we’ve just flown, over to Mumbai