British Airways is set to expand its India-UK connectivity by adding a third daily flight between London Heathrow and Delhi in 2026, the airline announced on Wednesday. The move comes as the UK seeks to strengthen trade and business ties with India following the July signing of a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The airline, which has operated in India for over a century, said the new service will be subject to regulatory and capacity approvals.
British Airways also plans to reintroduce its popular First cabin on London-Mumbai flights this month and will roll out its latest business class Club Suite across all five Indian destinations by the end of 2026.
Currently, British Airways runs 56 weekly flights connecting London with Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Mumbai sees three daily flights, Delhi two, while Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad each have one daily service. India remains the airline’s largest market outside the United States.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is leading the ‘Britain Means Business’ trade mission to India, said British Airways’ century-long presence highlights its importance in supporting the FTA. “As our landmark trade deal paves the way for new opportunities for businesses, our national flag carrier will play a critical role in strengthening trade links with India, boosting UK growth and helping deliver on our Plan for Change,” Starmer said.
British Airways Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle highlighted the airline’s deep-rooted connection with India, noting that 2,500 British Airways employees are based in the country. “The Free Trade Agreement with India will boost economic momentum between our two countries, and British Airways really sits at the centre of that activity, acting as an enabler for increased trade. We will develop our own network alongside increased economic activity, so the FTA for our business is very good news,” he said.
As part of the trade mission, around 130 top UK CEOs, including Doyle, and senior government officials flew to Mumbai on a chartered British Airways flight to engage with Indian business leaders and explore opportunities arising from the FTA. (With inputs from agencies)
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