Virgin Atlantic has announced the launch of a second daily direct flight on the route. Starting from October 27, this new service will double the airline’s daily operations between Mumbai and London Heathrow, reflecting a substantial surge in passenger numbers. The decision to introduce an additional flight comes in response to a marked increase in travellers journeying from Mumbai to the UK capital.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, highlighted that the number of direct passengers from Mumbai to the UK currently stands at approximately 1,000 daily. This figure does not account for those taking connecting flights, suggesting an even higher level of demand. He explained, “The unidirectional traffic from Mumbai to the UK has risen significantly, prompting us to enhance our service. Starting October 27, we will operate a second daily flight, which will boost our capacity and provide more flexibility for our passengers.” The newly added service will utilise Virgin Atlantic’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000, designed to offer superior comfort and advanced amenities. This aircraft will offer a more modern alternative compared to Air India’s current A350-900 variant on the same route.
In addition to the new Mumbai-London service, Virgin Atlantic has revealed plans to expand its presence in India by introducing flights from two additional cities by 2023. The potential new destinations include Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Goa. This expansion is part of the airline’s broader strategy to tap into the growing travel market between India and the UK, which has seen a 350% increase in unidirectional traffic over the past year. Furthermore, 65,000 UK visas have been issued by Indian authorities in the past year, the highest number on record. Virgin Atlantic also plans to commence flights to Toronto, Canada, by March 2025, broadening its international network and further enhancing connectivity for its passengers.
