Air India resumed operations between Ahmedabad (AMD) and London Heathrow (LHR) on Monday 15 August

The Star Alliance carrier is using its 787-8s to operate four times weekly on the 6,862-kilometre route, which it last served non-stop in October 2008 with 767-300s according to OAG schedules data. This would appear to be something of a pre-emptive strike against POP, a new UK-based carrier, which is planning to start non-stop flights between London Stansted and Ahmedabad (and Amritsar) in early 2017. Three of the four weekly Air India flights then continue on to New York Newark (EWR). This is another route resumption as Air India last operated this 5,560-kilometre sector in March 2009 using 747-400s. While there is currently no competition on the former route, United Airlines (five daily flights), British Airways (double-daily flights) and Virgin Atlantic Airways (daily flights) offer a combined eight flights per day between Heathrow and Newark. The Indian national carrier also serves the UK’s busiest airport from Delhi (twice daily) and Mumbai (daily), again with 787-8s, as well as operating daily non-stop flights from Delhi to Birmingham. On routes between the UK and India, British Airways still leads with 40% of seat capacity followed by Air India (28%), Jet Airways (26%) and Virgin Atlantic Airways (6%).

Aenna