Air Travel Demand to London Soars, Airlines Increase Frequency

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Air travel demand on routes from Indian metros to London has seen a significant increase in recent times, which has prompted competing airlines to add more frequency to their flights to Heathrow.

This has resulted in airlines including British Airways, Air India and Air Canada planning to operate more flights between India to London-Gatwick and also utilizing their fifth freedom right to land in London.

British Airways Increases Flight Frequency

British Airways has increased its flight frequency on the Mumbai-London route from two to three daily flights. The airline is operating the new route (BA134) with its brand-new A350 aircraft.

With this addition, British Airways now operates 56 flights per week from five cities – a double daily from Delhi, now thrice a week from Mumbai, and a daily flight from Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru.

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Air India Plans More Flights to London

Air India Boeing 777-200
Image From Wikimedia Commons

As we recently posted, Air India which is now owned by the Tata Group has also announced its plans to clear up its slots in London Heathrow to allow more flights from Delhi and Mumbai.

From summer 2023, Air India’s thrice-a-week flights to London from Goa, Cochin, Ahmedabad, and Amritsar will land in Gatwick and not Heathrow.

The airline also announced the launch of five additional weekly frequencies to London Heathrow. Subject to regulatory approvals, Air India will add three flights from Delhi to London Heathrow, increasing the frequency from 14 to 17 times per week and two from Mumbai, to take it up from 12 to 14 times per week.

Air Canada Exercises Fifth Freedom Right

Air Canada Aircraft

Air Canada launched a daily non-stop seasonal service from Mumbai to London Heathrow three months ago. The flight, scheduled to operate till the March end, is part of Air Canada’s daily Toronto-Mumbai service, which now does fifth freedom health in London-Heathrow.

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What is Fifth Freedom Right?

The Fifth Freedom Right is a concept in international aviation that refers to the right of an airline to carry passengers from one’s own country to a second country, and then on to a third country. It is one of the eight rights established by the Chicago Convention of 1944, which governs international air travel.

(With Inputs From The Times of India)


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Manish Khandelwal
Manish Khandelwal

Manish Khandelwal, a travel-tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travelobiz.com, he's passionate about writing.

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