British Airways to launch third daily London-Delhi flight as UK, India strengthen trade partnership

British Airways will add a third daily service between London Heathrow and Delhi from 2026, as the airline looks to strengthen its presence in one of its fastest-growing markets. The announcement was made during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's trade mission to India, part of the UK Government's 'Britain Means Business' initiative to boost economic ties following the Free Trade Agreement signed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July, according to official sources.

Airline eyes growth as trade ties deepen

The British carrier said the additional flight would enhance travel options and support growing trade and investment flows between the two countries. British Airways currently operates 56 direct services each week to five Indian cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad and plans further expansion as demand rises. Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive of British Airways, said the new connection reflects both economic opportunity and historic ties.

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"Our ties with India were established over a century ago and today we have around 2,500 British Airways colleagues based there," Doyle said in the company statement. "The Free Trade Agreement with India will boost economic momentum between our two countries, and British Airways sits at the centre of that activity, enabling greater trade and connectivity." He added that as a leading European carrier across the North Atlantic, the airline also helps connect India to the US and other markets, expanding the potential for business and tourism.

British Airways' investment in service and infrastructure

Alongside its network expansion, British Airways will reintroduce its First cabin on flights from London to Mumbai later this month and deploy its latest Club Suite business class across all Indian routes by the end of 2026. The airline is also investing £7 billion in a global transformation programme covering new short-haul seats, free onboard Wi-Fi messaging, upgraded lounges and other improvements. More than 900 individual initiatives have already been rolled out under the plan.

In India, the carrier has launched a free Meet and Assist service for passengers needing additional travel support. Introduced in March, it has already been used by around 5,500 travellers. The service is available at all five Indian airports served by the airline, with locally trained staff fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu and Tamil assisting passengers.

Air connectivity key to new business opportunities

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the airline's continued expansion as a reflection of the "enduring partnership" between the two nations.

"British Airways has been connecting the United Kingdom with India for more than a century," Starmer said in a statement. "As our landmark trade deal paves the way for new opportunities for businesses, our national carrier will play a vital role in strengthening trade links with India, boosting UK growth and helping deliver on our Plan for Change."

The announcement came as 130 top UK CEOs and senior government ministers flew to India aboard a chartered British Airways flight to participate in business dialogues in Mumbai and Delhi, focusing on trade, technology and investment cooperation.

Growing competition on the UK-India route

India-UK air connectivity has seen significant expansion this year. Apart from Air India's 49 weekly flights to London Heathrow and additional routes from Gatwick and Birmingham, IndiGo has entered the UK market with three weekly flights from Mumbai to Manchester. The airline will add daily services to London Heathrow from October 26, and launch flights from New Delhi to Manchester from November 15, according to sources. According to a UK Government press release, the wider aviation expansion between India and the UK is expected to contribute over £50 million in annual exports, generate £25 million in tourism income, and create 450 new jobs. British Airways, which marks 20 years of operations to Bengaluru this month, said it remains committed to investing in India's fast-growing aviation market and supporting stronger economic and people-to-people ties