British Airways (BA) is preparing to significantly enhance its flight operations in India, recognizing the nation’s fast-growing aviation sector and strong demand for outbound international travel. The carrier, which holds a long history of service to the country spanning over a century, has identified India as a core growth area in its global network strategy.
Currently, the airline operates 56 weekly flights connecting London to five major Indian gateway cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai. These services include three daily flights from Mumbai and two daily services from the capital, Delhi, alongside a single daily flight from the remaining three destinations.
To accommodate the rising passenger volumes, BA plans to introduce a third daily service on the Delhi-London route within the next year. This potential increase in capacity is subject to official regulatory approvals. Rene de Groot, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, confirmed the ongoing commitment to the market, stating that the company continuously monitors its schedule and looks to expand services as customer demand strengthens. He noted the goal is to provide maximum connectivity and elevate the travel experience across its network.
The airline views India as its second most important market globally, ranked only after the United States in terms of scale and strategic focus. This dedication is reflected in its local operations, including maintaining dedicated cabin crew bases in all five Indian cities it serves. BA also operates CallBA, its customer support center in Gurugram, which employs approximately 2,000 staff who offer round-the-clock assistance to travelers across multiple continents. Mr. de Groot emphasized that local hiring remains central to the airline’s operations and service delivery.
British Airways’ broader network reach in the region is further strengthened by key industry collaborations. This includes a codeshare partnership with IndiGo, which extends connectivity to domestic points, and a joint business arrangement with Qatar Airways. Through this cooperation, the carriers collectively offer connections to 13 Indian destinations, resulting in 148 weekly flights via direct London services or through Doha. The airline executive also welcomed the expansion of local carriers like IndiGo and Air India, seeing their growth as a constructive development for India’s emerging role as a global aviation center. This planned capacity increase underscores the carrier’s long-term investment in the India-UK travel corridor, which remains vital for business, education, and leisure travelers.
