Air India Osaka flights are scheduled to begin Feb. 2, 2027, with four weekly nonstop services between New Delhi and Kansai International Airport, the airline announced Oct. 15. The carrier plans to use Boeing 787-8 aircraft on the route, extending its Japanese network beyond Tokyo.
The airline described the route as the only planned nonstop connection between Delhi and Osaka. That claim concerns the announced city pair, not every flight between India and Japan. Osaka service has not yet begun, and travelers should distinguish the published schedule from completed operations.
The addition gives travelers a second Air India destination in Japan and a way to build trips that start in the Kansai region and end in Tokyo without returning to their arrival airport.
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Air India Osaka flights: schedule and operating days
Air India lists outbound flight AI360 from Delhi at 10:50 p.m., arriving at Osaka Kansai at 9:50 a.m. the following day. The outbound schedule is Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. All advertised departure and arrival times are local to the respective airports.
Return flight AI359 is scheduled to depart Osaka at 11:50 a.m. and arrive in Delhi at 6:20 p.m. It is listed for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The two flights do not operate on identical sets of days, a detail that matters to travelers planning short stays or connecting journeys.
The airline is progressively opening reservations through its website, mobile app, contact center, airport ticket offices and travel agents. Travelers should check current availability rather than assume every advertised flight or fare is immediately bookable.
The published Air India announcement and timetable provide the launch date and planned frequencies. The carrier has not said that the service is already operating.
Boeing 787-8 cabin and connection options
Air India says its Boeing 787-8 aircraft on the new service will have 18 fully flat Business Class beds and 241 Economy Class seats. That is 259 advertised passenger seats across the two cabins; an aircraft registration for the first Osaka flight has not been identified in the release.
The overnight Delhi departure and morning arrival in Kansai offer one way to reach Osaka directly from the Indian capital. The return flight reaches Delhi the same evening, where travelers may be able to connect with services on Air India’s wider network. Actual connection eligibility depends on operating times and booking conditions.
Air India Osaka flights will also support the carrier’s promoted open-jaw itineraries: a passenger can arrive in Osaka and return to India from Tokyo, or make the trip in the other direction. This is particularly relevant for visitors planning travel through Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.
The new route adds to, rather than replaces, existing Japanese operations. Air India says it currently flies daily from Delhi to Tokyo Haneda and four times weekly from Mumbai to Haneda. Japan Airlines’ separate regional aircraft plans centered on Osaka Itami are another development in Japanese aviation, but concern a different airport and airline.
Japan travel demand behind the new route
Air India links the expansion to increasing leisure travel and business ties between India and Japan. Citing Japan National Tourism Organization figures, the carrier says more than 315,000 Indian visitors traveled to Japan in 2025, 35% more than in 2024 and nearly 80% above pre-pandemic levels.
Those visitor numbers describe demand across Japan, not confirmed bookings for this particular flight. They also do not establish how full the Delhi–Osaka aircraft will be once service begins. No route-specific load factor or profitability projection was included in the announcement.
Kansai International Airport serves the Osaka metropolitan area and provides an arrival point for travelers heading into western Japan. By adding that entry point alongside Haneda, Air India can market itineraries that cover multiple cities without requiring passengers to return to Tokyo before flying home.
Air India Osaka flights remain a scheduled expansion rather than a completed launch. Frequencies, timings and aircraft assignments should be checked against the airline’s booking system closer to February, especially for journeys involving another domestic or international connection.
FAQ: Air India Osaka flights
When will Air India Osaka flights begin?
Air India plans to start the Delhi–Osaka route Feb. 2, 2027, with four flights per week in each direction.
Which aircraft and seats are planned?
The airline lists a Boeing 787-8 with 18 fully flat Business Class beds and 241 Economy Class seats.
Will Osaka replace Air India’s Tokyo flights?
No. Air India says Osaka will be its second Japanese destination, alongside Tokyo Haneda.
Looking Ahead
Air India Osaka flights are planned to start Feb. 2, 2027. The next practical milestones are wider booking availability and confirmation of the operating schedule nearer inauguration. The airline has not announced a specific aircraft registration for the first departure.
Sources
Air India — Delhi–Osaka press release and flight timetable, Oct. 15, 2026.
