The new connectivity between Delhi and Osaka from February 2027 gives travel agents more options to design multi-city Japan itineraries, optimise sightseeing schedules and cater to growing demand for the destination.
Japan-bound travellers will soon have another direct gateway to explore the country, with Air India introducing non-stop flights between Delhi and Osaka from 2 February 2027. The new connectivity between Delhi and Osaka will strengthen access to Japan’s Kansai region for Indian leisure and business travellers.
The service will operate four times a week using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, featuring 18 full-flat beds in Business Class and 241 seats in Economy Class. Flight AI360 will depart Delhi at 10:50 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving at Osaka’s Kansai International Airport at 9:50 am the following day. The return flight, AI359, will depart Osaka at 11:50 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, reaching Delhi at 6:20 pm the same day. All timings are local.
For travel agents and tour operators, the new connectivity between Delhi and Osaka offers practical opportunities to develop more competitive Japan packages. Osaka can serve as the arrival point for itineraries covering Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, allowing agents to create Kansai-focused holidays without routing clients through Tokyo. Open-jaw itineraries, with travellers flying into Osaka and returning from Tokyo, can reduce backtracking and allow more time for sightseeing.
The four-weekly schedule gives agents additional departure options when planning group tours, school holiday packages, cherry blossom trips and autumn foliage itineraries. The overnight outbound flight, with a morning arrival in Osaka, can help travellers make better use of their first day, subject to hotel check-in arrangements and the final itinerary.
The aircraft’s Business and Economy Class configuration also allows agents to cater to different customer segments, from premium leisure travellers and corporate clients to families and first-time visitors to Japan. Tour operators can bundle flights with accommodation, guided sightseeing, rail travel and regional experiences to create packages across different budgets and trip durations.
The launch comes amid rising interest in Japan among Indian travellers. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, more than 315,000 Indians visited the country in 2025, representing a 35% increase over 2024 and nearly 80% growth compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Osaka will become Air India’s second destination in Japan after Tokyo Haneda, which the airline serves with daily flights from Delhi and four weekly flights from Mumbai. Bookings are being progressively made available through Air India’s website, mobile app, customer contact centre, airport ticketing offices and travel agents worldwide.
