Air India is planning to operate non-stop flights on the Chennai-London route from January next year, making Tamil Nadu's capital the ninth city to be connected to the British capital.
Flights between India and the UK have been operating under an air bubble pact ever since the Covid-19 induced lockdown was lifted in India.
Air India is planning to operate non-stop flights on the Chennai-London route from January next year, making Tamil Nadu's capital the ninth city to be connected to the British capital.
Air India is currently operating non-stop flights to London from Delhi (seven flights a week), Mumbai (four flights a week), Kochi (three flights a week), Ahmedabad (two flights a week), Bengaluru (two flights a week), Goa (two flights a week), Kolkata (one flight a week) and Amritsar (one flight a week), an airline spokesperson told PTI.
When asked about the occupancy rate in its London flights post coronavirus-induced lockdown, the spokesperson said the "load factors have been generally good".
"Some of the stations like Delhi, Kochi, Goa and Ahmedabad have witnessed quite a heavy demand (for London flights). We have plans to commence direct operations between Chennai and London from January, 2021," the spokesperson added.
Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, airlines have been permitted to operate special international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under the bilateral air bubble pacts since July.
Flights between India and the UK have been operating under an air bubble pact only post the lockdown.