Virgin Atlantic is preparing to resume flights between London and Mumbai at the end of the month after a three year gap.
The airline currently serves Delhi from Heathrow and is launching the Mumbai service on October 28, six months after Kingfisher Airlines suspended its London flights from Delhi and Mumbai.
Currently, British Airways, Air India and Jet Airways fly five times daily between the two cities
The daily flights using new Airbus A330-300 aircraft will allow for connections from India at Heathrow to Virgin’s transatlantic network to destinations such as New York, Boston and Washington.
Virgin pulled off the route due to the global economic slowdown but says the number of people flying between London and Mumbai has grown by 9% since 2009 to more than one million passengers, making it Heathrow’s 12th busiest long-haul route.
The A330 will be configured with three classes: Upper Class with 33 seats, Premium Economy with 48 seats and Economy with 185 seats.
President Sir Richard Branson said: “Virgin Atlantic is proud to be flying to Mumbai again, linking this wonderful city to our key destinations of London, New York, Boston and Washington.
“India’s phenomenal growth continues to drive travel to the UK and the USA.”