Air India Announces More UK and Europe Flights, Suspends Some Routes

Air India is boosting its international connectivity with a significant increase in flight frequencies across key routes. Starting March 30, 2025, travellers can look forward to more convenient and frequent flights to popular destinations in the UK, Europe, Far East Asia, and Africa. This expansion comes as part of the airline’s Northern Summer schedule.  

Increased Flights to the United Kingdom

For those eyeing the United Kingdom, Air India is adding more flights to several cities. The Delhi-London Heathrow route sees a significant jump, with three extra weekly flights, bringing the total to 24.

These flights will be operated by a mix of the airline’s flagship A350-900 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft, offering passengers a comfortable and modern travel experience.

Travellers from Amritsar and Ahmedabad will also benefit, with increased frequencies to Birmingham and London Gatwick, respectively

• Delhi-London Heathrow: Increased from 21 to 24 weekly flights.
• Amritsar-Birmingham: Increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights.
• Amritsar-London Gatwick: Increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights.
• Ahmedabad-London Gatwick: Increased from 3 to 5 weekly flights.

More Flights to Europe

Air India is also enhancing its European network. More flights are being added to Zurich and Vienna from Delhi, providing greater flexibility for travellers exploring these vibrant cities.

• Delhi-Zurich: Increased from 4 to 5 weekly flights.
• Delhi-Vienna: Increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights.

Far East Asia and Africa Expansion

The airline is not neglecting other regions. Delhi-Seoul (Incheon) flights will increase, offering more opportunities for travel to South Korea. The Delhi-Hong Kong route will now feature the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, providing an upgraded travel experience for all seven weekly flights.

Additionally, there will be more flights to Nairobi, Kenya, opening up more travel possibilities in Africa.

• Delhi-Seoul (Incheon): Increased from 4 to 5 weekly flights.
• Delhi-Hong Kong: Aircraft upgrade to B787 Dreamliner on all 7 weekly flights.
• Delhi-Nairobi: Increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights.

Temporary Route Suspensions

Due to the ongoing retrofit program, Air India will temporarily suspend the following routes:

• Mumbai-Melbourne: Suspended from March 30 to September 13, 2025.
• Kochi-London Gatwick: Suspended from March 30, 2025, until further notice.

Despite these temporary suspensions, Air India will continue to operate 12 weekly flights to London Gatwick from Amritsar, Ahmedabad, and Goa.

Fleet Modernization and Retrofit Updates

Air India is also progressing with its fleet modernization. The airline’s narrowbody aircraft refurbishment is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Additionally, the first Boeing 787 widebody will undergo a retrofit in April 2025 and return to service by October 2025, with two to three more aircraft upgraded monthly until all 27 legacy B787s are modernized.

The Boeing 777 retrofit, originally set for 2025, will now begin in early 2026 due to production delays. However, Air India plans to refresh key elements of the B777 interiors throughout 2025 to enhance passenger comfort.

What This Means for Travellers

These strategic route expansions and fleet upgrades aim to improve Air India’s service quality and international connectivity. Passengers can expect more comfortable flights with upgraded seating and entertainment systems, along with increased flight availability to major global destinations.