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The Best U.S. Cities to Fly From for Cheaper Trips to Pakistan & India (2025)

✈ Smart Travel Blog • FlyToDash • Updated 2025

If you’ve ever searched flights to Pakistan or India from the U.S., you’ve probably had that “why is this over $1,600?!” moment. Then a friend says, “Oh, I flew from New York and it was way cheaper,” and suddenly you’re wondering if you should just start your trip in another city.

The short version: your departure city matters a lot. Bigger hubs with more competition and non-stop options tend to have lower average fares than smaller airports. That isn’t just a hunch—U.S. Department of Transportation data and independent fare studies consistently show that large hub airports usually offer cheaper tickets than smaller regional ones because more airlines are fighting to compete for the same routes.

Quick TL;DR

If you’re visiting family in Pakistan or India, these U.S. cities are often among the most reliable places to find better-value fares:

• New York City (JFK & EWR) – Tons of airlines + nonstop & one-stop options.
• Washington, DC (IAD) – Strong for Pakistan & Northern India via Gulf/Turkish hubs.
• Chicago (ORD) – Excellent routing through both Gulf hubs & direct India service.
• Houston (IAH) – Particularly strong for Karachi & South India.
• Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) – Growing South Asia connectivity + competitive fares.
• West Coast backup: SFO & LAX – Best for travelers already in the western U.S.

Let’s break down why these cities work so well—and when it’s actually worth positioning there from somewhere else in the U.S.

Why Big Hubs Beat Small Airports for South Asia

The Department of Transportation tracks average fares by airport. Independent summaries of this data show a clear pattern: larger hub airports generally have lower average fares than smaller regional airports, due to greater capacity, more airlines on the same routes, and more competition.

That same logic carries over to long-haul South Asia routes, especially when a city has:

• Multiple airlines competing for the same region (e.g., Qatar, Emirates, Etihad, Turkish, and major U.S. carriers)
• Large South Asian communities driving consistent year-round demand

This is exactly what you find in cities like New York, DC, Chicago, and Houston.

1. New York City (JFK & EWR): The Heavyweight Champion

• Nonstop and one-stop options to major Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
• Excellent connections to Pakistan via Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul.
• A massive South Asian population helps keep airlines competitive.

On most flexible date searches through tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak, New York (JFK/EWR) frequently shows noticeably lower fares than smaller origin airports.

2. Washington, DC (IAD): A Quietly Powerful Hub

DC may not feel as busy as New York or LA, but it quietly offers some of the best routing options to:

• Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi
• Delhi, Amritsar

Major Gulf carriers connect IAD to Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi (key gateways to both Pakistan & India), and Turkish Airlines connects DC to Istanbul — another powerful bridge to South Asia.

3. Chicago (ORD): A Reliable Midwest Powerhouse

• Strong coverage to both India & Pakistan through Gulf and European hubs.
• Large South Asian communities & high connecting traffic support frequent routes.

Independent airport-fare comparisons frequently show that large hubs like ORD regularly beat smaller Midwestern airports, making it a smart option for travelers from states like Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana.

4. Houston (IAH): Great for Pakistan & South India

• Elite connectivity to Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi.
• Particularly strong for Karachi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, and Bangalore trips.
• High South Asian population in Texas keeps seats filled & prices competitive.

5. Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW): A Growing Player

• Expanding long-haul network to South Asia via Gulf carriers.
• Fast-growing diaspora strengthens competition on fares.

6. West Coast Options: SFO & LAX

• Nonstop & one-stop options to key Indian cities.
• Competition among U.S., Gulf, and Asian carriers.
• Terrific option if you’re already based in CA, WA, OR, or NV.

If you’re in the western U.S., always compare SFO vs. LAX vs. your local airport. Sometimes a short hop to a major hub can mean major savings.

Should You “Position” to One of These Cities?

Here’s a practical way to decide:

• Check your home airport’s price first.
• Then price out:
  • a separate U.S. round-trip to a hub, plus
  • a hub–to–Pakistan/India ticket.

Repositioning only makes sense if the combined cost is significantly cheaper & the layovers aren’t brutal.

How FlyToDash Fits Into This

I usually help travelers compare:

1. Their local airport.
2. One or two major hubs like NYC, DC, or Chicago.
3. Multiple airlines & routes quickly using FlyToDash.

Methodology & Sources

This breakdown isn’t based on guesswork. Here’s exactly how the analysis was done:

• Reviewed average airfares by U.S. airport reported by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), which tracks and publishes fare data directly from airlines.
• Cross-checked summaries of fare trends published by independent financial and travel outlets such as Investopedia and Axios, which both analyzed DOT fare data to compare airports.
• Reviewed lists of airports that consistently offer competitive international routes from industry and travel-deal sources. These lists highlight **hub airports with high competition**, which generally leads to lower average fares.
• Performed sample round-trip fare searches (as of early 2025) using: Google Flights, Skyscanner, KAYAK, and FlyToDash.com to compare actual pricing differences between hub airports and smaller U.S. airports when flying to Pakistan and India.

Important note: flight prices change constantly. The airports listed here are strong predictors of better value, not guarantees. Always compare a few options for your dates — and if FlyToDash shows a great fare from your home airport, it’s often best to book before it disappears.