Air India to launch non-stop flights between Bengaluru and London's Gatwick from August 18

Air India will operate 5x weekly between Bengaluru and London Gatwick

Air India will launch direct flight services between Bengaluru and London's Gatwick, the UK's second-largest airport, from August 18.

As Tata Group-owned Air India opens bookings for the route, Bengaluru will be the only Indian city connected to London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

"Air India will operate 5x weekly between Bengaluru and London Gatwick, thus taking the total count of its flights to and from London Gatwick to 17x weekly. The service, which will further strengthen Air India’s presence in the UK, reinforces the strong economic and cultural links between India and the UK," an Air India spokesperson said on June 7.

Also, read: Bengaluru world's fastest growing tech hub, London second: Report

The flight (AI 177) will leave Bengaluru at 1.05 pm and reach Gatwick at 7.05 pm. On the return leg, AI 178 will take off from Gatwick at 8.35 pm and arrive in Bengaluru at 10:50 am.

The airline will use Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the route, featuring 18 flat beds in business class and 238 spacious seats in economy. It will operate five days a week except Tuesdays and Saturdays.

"We are delighted to offer our guests convenient, non-stop flights between Bengaluru and London Gatwick. This new route caters to the growing demand for travel between these two important business and leisure destinations, and strengthens our commitment to expanding our global network," said Air India chief executive officer and managing director Campbell Wilson.

After the launch, three airlines will operate 19 times a week between Bengaluru and London, indicating a growing demand for flights between India's tech and startup capital and the UK. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate from Heathrow.

In April, Virgin Atlantic commenced daily operations between Bengaluru and Heathrow. After Delhi and Mumbai, Bengaluru is the third Indian city from where Virgin Atlantic flies daily to London.

Also, read: Virgin Atlantic launches daily direct flights between London and Bengaluru

Bengaluru is the fifth Indian city to be connected to Gatwick. Last year, Air India shifted flights from non-metro airports such as Amritsar, Goa, Ahmedabad and Kochi from Heathrow to Gatwick.