BENGALURU- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) today (June 7, 2024) announced the launch of non-stop flights between Bengaluru (BLR) and London Gatwick (LGW), beginning on 18 August 2024.
This makes Bengaluru the fifth Indian city to connect with the UK’s second-largest airport. This new service will enhance Air India’s presence in the UK and highlight the strong economic and cultural ties between India and the UK.
Air India Bengaluru to London
Air India will operate these flights five times a week, increasing the total number of its weekly flights to and from London Gatwick to 17.
The route will be serviced by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which include 18 flat beds in Business class and 238 spacious seats in Economy.
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Air India said,
“We are excited to offer convenient, non-stop flights between Bengaluru and London Gatwick. This new route meets the rising demand for travel between these key business and leisure destinations and reinforces our commitment to expanding our global network.”
Now Here’s the Flight Schedule:
| SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS BETWEEN BENGULURU AND LONDON GATWICK Effective 18 August 2024 |
||||
| Flight # | Sector | Departure | Arrival | Days of Operation |
| AI177 | Bengaluru-London Gatwick | 1305 Hrs | 1905 Hrs | Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun |
| AI178 | London Gatwick-Bengaluru | 2035 Hrs | 1050 Hrs (+1) | Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun |
All times are local. (+1) denotes next-day arrival.
Air India currently connects four other Indian cities—Ahmedabad (AMD), Amritsar (ATQ), Goa (GOX), and Kochi (COK)—to London Gatwick. Additionally, the airline operates 31 weekly flights to London Heathrow (LHR) and 6 weekly flights to and from Birmingham (BHX).
Merger with Vistara
Yesterday, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger of Air India and Vistara (UK) marking the final step in the process.
This merger will position the Air India group as India’s largest international carrier, facilitating connectivity across five of the seven continents. It will operate a greater number of flights on international routes compared to any other airline.
Those familiar with the matter indicated that the process will be executed gradually, with no plans to ground flights as part of the integration.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson informed staff during a town hall meeting last month that approximately 7,000 Vistara employees have been evaluated for their new roles within Air India, with transfers expected to commence from June onwards.
The integration process for non-flying staff members of Vistara and Air India has also begun.
Sixty Vistara employees have already transitioned to Air India, while approximately 120 pilots from both airlines have been reassigned.
However, employees of Vistara remain uncertain about the merger, expressing concerns about the lack of clarity regarding their future roles.
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