Virgin Atlantic's inaugural non-stop flight from London Heathrow Airport arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on April 1.
The inaugural flight departed from Heathrow Airport on March 31 at 12:25 (BST) and arrived in Bengaluru at 2:45 am (IST) on April 1. It later departed at 4:52 am (IST) from Bengaluru on April 1 and arrived in London at 11:18 am (BST). Both arrival and departure flights had a passenger load above 85%.
After Delhi and Mumbai, Bengaluru becomes the third Indian city where Virgin Atlantic operates daily services to London. "With the launch of Bengaluru, the airline offers almost 850,000 seats each year between the UK and India," said an airline source.
Virgin Atlantic has a codeshare agreement with IndiGo, which covers 36 destinations across India. "Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural Boeing B789 flight from Heathrow Airport arrived this morning. The culmination of months of hard work by the Bengaluru airport and Virgin Atlantic teams, offering more choices for our passengers to visit London now," said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer, BIAL.
Virgin Atlantic, wrote on X: "Today we landed in our newest destination, Bengaluru. Known as the Silicon Valley of India, the city is a thriving hub for business and innovation. Beyond business, this multicultural garden city is full of opportunities to explore".
"Bengaluru, also known as the Silicon Valley of India, is a rapidly growing tech hub and one of the largest corporate markets in India. This new service will enhance connections between Bengaluru and the UK, offering seamless connectivity and a consistent long-haul experience for customers connecting via London Heathrow to destinations throughout North America, including Seattle, San Francisco, and New York JFK, with Virgin Atlantic and its transatlantic joint venture partner Delta Air Lines," said a spokesperson of Virgin Atlantic.
Bengaluru flights operate on Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, boasting 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, and 192 Economy Delight, Classic, and Light seats, as well as the airline’s signature Upper-Class social space.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, in June 2023, said that the increased connectivity this service brings, not only between Bengaluru and the UK but also to key tech hubs in the US including Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
In addition to passenger flights, Virgin Atlantic will offer a fast, efficient cargo service with 20 tonnes available on each flight. Given Bengaluru and the surrounding region's status as an industrial powerhouse, strong demand for cargo transportation is expected for companies looking to export and import goods such as fashion, pharmaceuticals, and tech between prime markets in the UK, US, and India.
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