the new york-newark-bridgeport, ny-nj-ct-pa combined statistical area, consisting of new york city, long island, and adjacent areas within new york, as well as nearby areas within the states of new jersey (extending to trenton), connecticut (extending to bridgeport), and including pike county, pennsylvania, was home to an estimated 711,174 uniracial indian americans as of the 2017 american community survey by the u.s. census bureau, comprising by far the largest indian american population of any metropolitan area in the united states; new york city itself also contains by far the highest indian american population of any individual city in north america, estimated at 246,454 as of 2017. monroe township, middlesex county, in central new jersey, the geographic heart of the northeast megalopolis, has displayed one of the fastest growth rates of its indian population in the western hemisphere, increasing from 256 (0.9%) as of the 2000 census to an estimated 5,943 (13.6%) as of 2017, representing a 2,221.5% (a multiple of 23) numerical increase over that period, including many affluent professionals and senior citizens. in 2014, 12,350 indians legally immigrated to the new york-northern new jersey-long island, ny-nj-pa core based statistical area; as of december 2019, indian airline carrier air india as well as united states airline carrier united airlines were offering direct flights from the new york city metropolitan area to and from delhi and mumbai. in may 2019, delta air lines announced non-stop flight service between new york jfk and mumbai, to begin on december 22, 2019. at least twenty indian american enclaves characterized as a little india have emerged in the new york city metropolitan area.