India and UK Expand Air Service Agreement to Boost Flights

20 May 2024 CW Team

The UK's Department for Transport (DFT) revealed that the enhanced agreement allows for a total of 70 weekly services between London Heathrow and these two major Indian hubs, starting from the upcoming winter season. Currently, carriers from both nations operate 56 flights per week on these routes.

"With around 300,000 travelers between India and the UK each month and bilateral trade in goods and services reaching ?39 billion in 2023, this expansion will strengthen our robust relationship with India, supporting business, trade, and tourism," the DFT stated.

The expansion is particularly beneficial for UK airlines that have utilized their maximum allowance of 56 weekly flights. Indian carriers, including Air India and Vistara, currently run 38 weekly flights between London Heathrow and India.

Virgin Atlantic has already announced plans for a second London-Mumbai service starting at the end of October, anticipating the increased traffic rights.

Kapil Kaul, CEO of aviation consultancy CAPA India, noted, "The expansion of traffic rights between India and London Heathrow Airport is a logical step and long overdue. However, slot constraints at Heathrow remain a significant issue."

In 2023, nearly four million passengers traveled between India and the UK, with Delhi and London Heathrow being the busiest airports for this traffic. Other notable routes included Mumbai to London Gatwick and Manchester to Kochi. Major carriers in the market include Air India, British Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, and Etihad, with Emirates capturing nearly 10% of the market share. Air India leads with approximately 30%.

Indiver Rastogi, president & group head of global business travel at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, welcomed the revision, saying, "The increased flights are positive news, addressing the high demand and easing current capacity constraints. This should also help in rationalizing airfares on these routes."

The updated air service agreement is set to enhance connectivity, promote economic growth, and foster stronger ties between India and the UK.

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

The civil aviation authorities of India and the United Kingdom have updated their air service agreement, paving the way for an additional 14 weekly flights between London Heathrow and the key Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai. The UK's Department for Transport (DFT) revealed that the enhanced agreement allows for a total of 70 weekly services between London Heathrow and these two major Indian hubs, starting from the upcoming winter season. Currently, carriers from both nations operate 56 flights per week on these routes. With around 300,000 travelers between India and the UK each month and bilateral trade in goods and services reaching ?39 billion in 2023, this expansion will strengthen our robust relationship with India, supporting business, trade, and tourism, the DFT stated. The expansion is particularly beneficial for UK airlines that have utilized their maximum allowance of 56 weekly flights. Indian carriers, including Air India and Vistara, currently run 38 weekly flights between London Heathrow and India. Virgin Atlantic has already announced plans for a second London-Mumbai service starting at the end of October, anticipating the increased traffic rights. Kapil Kaul, CEO of aviation consultancy CAPA India, noted, The expansion of traffic rights between India and London Heathrow Airport is a logical step and long overdue. However, slot constraints at Heathrow remain a significant issue. In 2023, nearly four million passengers traveled between India and the UK, with Delhi and London Heathrow being the busiest airports for this traffic. Other notable routes included Mumbai to London Gatwick and Manchester to Kochi. Major carriers in the market include Air India, British Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, and Etihad, with Emirates capturing nearly 10% of the market share. Air India leads with approximately 30%. Indiver Rastogi, president & group head of global business travel at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, welcomed the revision, saying, The increased flights are positive news, addressing the high demand and easing current capacity constraints. This should also help in rationalizing airfares on these routes. The updated air service agreement is set to enhance connectivity, promote economic growth, and foster stronger ties between India and the UK.

Real Estate

30 Jun 2026

The Workplace Reset

If the past few years have seen sustainability emerge as a buzzword in the design of commercial spaces, the next few years will see the focus shift to ‘experience’. Workplaces that prioritise superior employee experiences consistently report stronger talent attraction and higher retention rates and productivity, while using resources sustainably.First things first; what sort of experiences are expected from a workplace?As Vandana Dhawan Saxena, Founder and Design Principal, Studio IV Designs, explains, “Offices have grown into environments that need to support various kinds of experience..

Infrastructure Urban

30 Jun 2026

Designing Human-Centric High-Rises

The Institution of Engineers (India) (IEI), Navi Mumbai Local Centre, under the aegis of the Architectural Engineering Division Board, organised a one-day national seminar, ‘Reaching New Heights – Overcoming High-Rise Construction Challenges’, at CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai.The seminar brought together architects, engineers, planners, developers, academicians and industry professionals to deliberate on the design, construction, operation and sustainability of tall buildings in rapidly urbanising cities...To read the full article Click Here ..

Infrastructure Urban

30 Jun 2026

Carbon-negative and ultra-low carbon are not just claims!

In an interaction with Construction World, Tarun Jami, Founder, GreenJams, explains how the company is cutting cement’s carbon footprint by 80 per cent through Binder, while scaling innovations such as Agrocrete® and Novastone to make buildings lighter, faster and carbon-negative.Agrocrete® is positioned as a carbon-negative material. What does this mean for developers?For developers, Agrocrete® offers a practical way to reduce embodied carbon at the material level. Since walling forms a significant part of a building’s material footprint, using carbon-negative blocks can bring the net ..