LONDON – Air India is expanding its presence in the UK in a move that will strengthen the strong ties between the UK and India as it undergoes a major modernization program to become a world-class premium airline.
The Indian carrier is launching four new flights from London Gatwick to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Kochi and Goa, replacing those from London Heathrow, and will fly each route three times a week.
All four new flights will be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Flights to Ahmedabad and Amritsar began on Sunday, March 26, with flights to Kochi today (Monday, March 27) and Goa on Tuesday, March 28.
Air India is adding five weekly flights from London Heathrow, with flights to Delhi increasing from 14 to 17 and Mumbai from 12 to 14 as of yesterday (Sunday, March 26). Air India also plans to upgrade its London Heathrow and Delhi-Mumbai routes with Boeing 777 aircraft, which are scheduled to be added in May 2023, initially on the Delhi route. This allows to restore an excellent service to passengers.
Air India Chairman and CEO Campbell Wilson said, “We have ambitious but focused plans to return Air India to its rightful place as one of the world’s leading airlines.
“Our positive investments in customer service, new aircraft, and the brand as a whole will allow us to increase our market share on the main routes from the UK to India and bring more business and leisure travellers to India itself.
“We are delighted to be launching services from London Gatwick and expanding our Heathrow operations, giving our passengers even more choice when they arrive in India.”
Air India also flies from Birmingham to Amritsar and Delhi three times a week on each route. There are a total of 49 Air India flights between the UK and India per week (see table below).
The airline, which currently has 126 aircraft, has embarked on a major transformation, having just placed its largest-ever corporate order for a total of 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with deliveries starting later in 2023.
The new aircraft orders are in addition to the 36 narrow- and wide-body aircraft that the airline will lease at the end of 2022 and that are already included in the fleet. The airline also spent more than $400 million on a project to completely refurbish its wide-body fleet of 27 Boeing 787-8s and 13 Boeing 777s, along with a complete overhaul of existing cabins.
This includes the addition of the latest-generation seats and best-in-class entertainment across all grades. In addition, the Premium Economy cabin will be introduced in both fleets.
As part of the 470 new aircraft order, Air India has selected 250 new Airbus aircraft, comprising 40 A350 and 210 A320/A321neos, and 220 Boeing aircraft, comprising 190 Boeing 737 MAX, 20 Boeing 7, and 87.10 Boeing.
The first six Airbus A350s will arrive by the end of 2023. The fleet order and Gatwick expansion are expected to create 500 new jobs in the UK as part of Air India’s ambitious turnaround.
The order of the fleet and the expansion of its network signal the swift return of one of the world’s most iconic airlines. Air India was merged with the Tata Group in 2022. The move includes major changes to its brand, world-class customer service offerings on the ground and in the air, and more dynamic digital products.
