JET Airways aims to become the leading carrier between the UK and India despite postponing plans to expand from Heathrow while it builds relations with the trade.
However, the Indian airline still plans to launch from a regional airport next year and add a fourth destination from Heathrow.
UK and Ireland general manager Emmanuel Menu said: “We want to become the key player between the UK and India.”
The carrier operates twice a day from Heathrow to Mumbai, daily to Delhi and began flying three times a week to Amritsar a month ago. Its next route will be to Bangalore.
Menu declined to name the regional airports under consideration, but they are likely to be Birmingham, Nottingham East Midlands and Manchester.
Capacity between Mumbai and the UK has doubled in the past two years to eight daily flights, cutting average yields by 25%. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BMI and Air India all offer daily flights.
Jet’s last quarterly results showed a loss on international services, including London. It aims to break even on the route by the end of the financial year. Menu said: “There is over-capacity and we’re fighting very strong carriers.”
However, Jet’s main target for expansion is North America. It plans an extensive network from India, flying via a series of European airports. Menu said: “The demand for UK-India is sufficient to cover a turnaround operation.”
The first route, likely to be launched next year, will be Mumbai to New York via Brussels. Jet had planned to commence this last year, but was held up by a delay in US regulatory approval – partly due to a legal challenge from a firm with the same name.
Next up is likely to be a service to Toronto via Munich, and the carrier is considering routes via Paris, Rome and Zurich.