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British Airways expands Indian network amid UK trade mission

British Airways expands Indian network amid UK trade mission
Policy
Webp 71
Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister | wikipedia

British Airways is increasing its capacity on routes to India as part of a broader effort to strengthen business ties between the United Kingdom and India. This move coincides with a trade mission led by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has been in office since July 2024, and who recently traveled with other dignitaries from London to Mumbai on a British Airways charter flight.

Currently, British Airways serves five destinations in India: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The airline is seeking approval to increase its frequency on the Delhi route from two to three round trips per day next year. Additionally, British Airways plans to upgrade its cabins on these routes, with first class returning to one route later this month and an enhanced business class rollout expected by the end of 2026.

British Airways Chair and CEO Sean Doyle commented: "Today, we have around 2,500 colleagues based [in India]. We’ve been steadily increasing capacity over the years, and we’re now operating 56 direct services to five Indian cities each week."

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In October 2025, British Airways has scheduled a total of 452 flights between India and its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. This accounts for nearly 43.5% of the airline's Asian operations in terms of scheduled flights for the month. With nearly 1.5 million seats scheduled annually between the UK and India, this corridor is British Airways' largest non-US market.

Across all Asian routes in October, British Airways will operate approximately 1,040 flights offering more than 262,000 seats and over 1.36 billion available seat miles. The airline uses widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A350, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 series for these services.

Singapore Changi Airport is another key destination for British Airways in Asia. The carrier operates two daily flights there from Heathrow; one flight continues onward to Sydney, Australia.

Elsewhere in Asia, British Airways flies almost twice daily to Tokyo Haneda Airport despite longer flight times due to Russian airspace closures. For October alone, it plans to operate 58 round trips on this route.

The airline also serves Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur International Airport daily using the Airbus A350-1000 for Hong Kong and Boeing 787-9 'Dreamliner' for Kuala Lumpur. Previously serving Hong Kong with twice-daily flights, British Airways reduced capacity because of airspace restrictions over Russia.

Other Asian destinations served less frequently include Bangkok (BKK), Islamabad (ISB), Male (MLE), Shanghai (PVG), and Tbilisi (TBS). Service to Tbilisi resumed in March after being suspended since 2013; this route uses an Airbus A320.

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