Air India Mumbai to Melbourne Flights to Restart from Winter 2025

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MUMBAI– Tata-owned full-service carrier Air India (AI) plans to resume non-stop flights between Mumbai and Melbourne (MEL). The non-stop flights are now slated to start once again from September 2025.

These changes lead to uncertainty about this route. Air India is currently operating flights on this route three times a week. The route will temporarily be suspended from the March end, with the last flight scheduled to depart from Mumbai on 28^th March 2025.

Photo: Haozhe Peng

Air India Mumbai to Melbourne

On March 18, 2025, Air India officially reopened bookings for its Mumbai-Melbourne flights for the Winter 2025 schedule. This move signals the airline’s commitment to the route, dispelling rumors of a permanent suspension. It also indicates a strategic realignment, possibly influenced by projected demand and competitive market factors.

Air India’s decision to resume flights is a welcome relief for travelers seeking direct connectivity between two major cities. The airline is expected to cater to a strong demand during the winter season, which traditionally sees higher travel volumes due to holidays and year-end trips.

BOM-MEL Flight Schedule:

Starting 14^th September 2025, Air India will resume non-stop flights between Mumbai and Melbourne. The reinstated service between Mumbai and Melbourne will continue to be operated three times a week. The flights will have slightly revised timing.

• Flight AI310 will depart from Mumbai at 1:35 AM IST. The flight will be reaching Melbourne at 7:00 PM local time, after a journey of approximately twelve and a half hours.
• On the return leg, flight AI311, will depart from Melbourne at 9:00 PM local time. The return flight will be arriving in Mumbai at 3:00 AM IST the following day.

The route will continue to be operated by the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft are equipped with 256 seats, which includes 18 business class and 238 economy class seats.

Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)

Temporary Suspension and Market Impact

Air India’s Mumbai-Melbourne route has gone through a series of changes in recent months. Initially, this route was planned to be suspended for a six-month period. However, later, the route’s bookings for Winter 2025 were also closed. This raised concerns about a potential long-term discontinuation.

However, in a positive turn of events, Air India has now reopened bookings for this key international service. The Mumbai-Melbourne route, one of the few direct connections between India and Australia, is scheduled to be temporarily halted from March 29, 2025, to September 14, 2025.

During this period, passengers will have to rely on indirect options, primarily via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.

Melbourne, home to a large Indian diaspora, is a major destination for students, professionals, and tourists from India.

The temporary withdrawal of non-stop flights will affect both leisure and business travelers. This decision also raises questions about whether the airline intends to operate the route only as a winter seasonal service as part of its long-term strategy.

Photo: Dnata

Why Was the Route Suspended?

Air India’s aircraft shortage is a well-known issue. While Air India has not officially disclosed the reasons behind these changes, several factors could have influenced the airline’s decisions:

1. Fleet Utilization and Operational Constraints

Air India is in the midst of a major fleet expansion and network realignment. The airline is gradually introducing new aircraft while phasing out older ones. During this transition period, certain routes may have been temporarily suspended due to aircraft availability constraints.

2. Seasonal Demand Fluctuations

Australia, even though such a huge market, remains heavily seasonal. The India-Australia market has peak demand during the winter season, especially Christmas.

The suspension period (April to September) coincides with a relatively lower demand season for Australia-bound travel. Even the Qantas (QF) Bengaluru-Sydney route returns back 5x weekly from Daily from mid-March.

Air India may have opted to redeploy aircraft to higher-demand routes before bringing back the service for the winter season, when travel to Australia generally picks up.

3. Possible Fleet Refurbishment

Another possible reason for the temporary suspension could be Air India’s ongoing fleet refurbishment program. The airline has been sending aircraft for cabin upgrades and retrofits as part of its broader modernization efforts.

Given the limited availability of aircraft, Air India may have opted to temporarily halt the Mumbai-Melbourne route to accommodate these refurbishments, ensuring that when service resumes, passengers experience an improved in-flight product.

Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh Tekriwal

Bottom Line

With bookings now open, Air India appears to be committed to maintaining its presence in the India-Australia corridor.

Additionally, Air India’s long-term fleet expansion—featuring orders for Airbus A350s and additional Boeing 787s—could lead to further improvements in service quality and capacity on this route. The temporary suspension of Air India’s Mumbai-Melbourne route caused uncertainty, but the airline’s decision to reopen bookings for Winter 2025 is a reassuring sign for travelers.

With a strong Indian diaspora in Melbourne and increasing travel between the two nations, the route is expected to perform well. As Air India continues its transformation, passengers can look forward to enhanced connectivity and improved travel experiences in the future.

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