Air India announced it is adding up to 17 frequencies between the UK and India.
While five of these frequencies will be added to boost capacity on existing routes between Heathrow (LHR) and both Delhi (passing from 14 to 17 weekly) and Mumbai (passing from 12 to 14 flights per week), several new routes will connect London Gatwick airport to second-tier Indian cities.
Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Goa, and Kochi will each get thrice-weekly direct services to London Gatwick, in the South East of England. Air India is planning to use Boeing 787-8 aircraft on these services.
Following its takeover by Indian conglomerate Tata Sons (via its fully owned subsidiary, Talace Private Limited), the historical Indian flag carrier is currently going through a consolidation process that will see it merged with Vistara, another Indian airline, to create the leading carrier in the region, operating a fleet of 218 aircraft.