SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Air India‘s first non-stop flight from New Delhi to San Franciscolanded here, December 2, amid rousing welcome, becoming the first Indian airline to provide a direct air connection to the West Coast in the United States.

The Air India flight AI 173, a B777-200LR aircraft, with 230 passengers on board landed here at 5:40 am on Wednesday, December 2 with airport traffic control tower lit in Indian tricolor to welcome the flight to the city.

The passengers applauded when the aircraft touched the ground.

A number of officials from India and the US, which included the Consul General of India Venkatesan Ashok attended the ribbon cutting ceremony in New Delhi to mark the beginning of the services.

PTI quoted Ashok saying, “It is a remarkable day and today is a great day for Air India”.

Marking the maiden landing of a non-stop aircraft from India, the San Francisco city mayor Ed Lee declared this day as ‘Air India Day’.

With the non-stop flight shuttling between San Francisco and New Delhi, Air India has become the first Airliner to offer a direct connection to West Coast.

Prime minister Narendra Modi had announced the Air India flight to connect India and Silicon Valley, during his recent trip.

The Air India flight AI 173 will fly to San Francisco three times a week – on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The new aircraft has 3-cabin configuration with 8 seats in First Class, 35 seats in Business class and 195 seats in Economy Class.