As the aviation industry shifts from the summer to winter schedule on October 26, 2025, several changes in flight routes and frequencies have been observed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved the winter schedule, with Indian airlines set to operate over 25,000 weekly flights from more than 120 airports. This winter, certain routes stand out as the longest and shortest in Indian aviation.
Air India's service from Delhi to Port Blair marks the longest domestic flight, covering a distance of 2,481 km. This route is operated by Air India's Airbus A320neo, with a flight time of approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. The airline is increasing its presence on this sector, offering 21 weekly flights, including 14 operated by Air India and 7 by its subsidiary, Air India Express.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, operates its longest route between Bengaluru and Srinagar, spanning 2,320 km with a scheduled block time of 3 hours and 35 minutes. The airline uses the A320neo aircraft on this route.
In contrast, the shortest flight in India is between Diu and Keshod, operated by Alliance Air. This brief hop covers a mere 95 km in just 30 minutes and operates thrice a week. Alliance Air operates many routes under the RCS-UDAN scheme. IndiGo's shortest route is between Kochi and Kozhikode, covering 119 km in 45 minutes using the ATR 72-600. The shortest flight on IndiGo's Airbus fleet is between Jammu and Srinagar, which is 145 km and is operated 20 times a week.
Other airlines also have their own shortest routes. Air India Express and SpiceJet share the Jammu-Srinagar sector as their shortest. Akasa Air’s shortest route is between Guwahati and Agartala (154 km). Air India Express's shortest domestic route is the 135 km hop from Kannur to Mangalore. Flybig’s shortest route is the 140 km flight from Lucknow to Shravasti. IndiaOne Air’s shortest route is 142 km between Jeypore and Vizag. Fly91’s shortest route is the 288 km flight from Pune to Sindhudurg. Star Air’s shortest route is the 246 km flight from Hyderabad to Nanded.
Variations in flight durations on the same route can occur due to factors such as air traffic, weather conditions, and the specific aircraft used. For example, on the Delhi-Mumbai sector, flight times can vary between 1 hour and 55 minutes to 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Internationally, the longest flight from India is Air India's service from Bengaluru to San Francisco, covering 13,987 km in 16 hours and 20 minutes. The shortest international flight from India is operated by Druk Air, traveling 137 km from Bagdogra to Paro.
