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.

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.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..