Air India has expanded its European offerings by launching a new daily flight connecting Bengaluru to London Heathrow, effective October 27. This route will be serviced by a Boeing 787-8 and signifies a strategic transition for the airline as it enhances its fleet with the latest Airbus A350-900s, which have been repurposed from Aeroflot. This initiative is part of Air India’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its international services. While the airline previously operated flights to London Gatwick, this new route to the more prestigious Heathrow Airport is designed to target a market with higher revenue potential.The airline currently operates six A350-900s, which were originally designated for Aeroflot and boast an average age of just one year. These aircraft are recognized for their superior hard product quality, representing a notable advancement over the older widebody models in Air India’s fleet, including the Boeing 787-8, 777-200LR, and 777-300ER. In addition to the A350-900s, Air India has placed orders for A350-1000s, 787-9s (some of which have been transferred from Vistara), and Boeing 777-9s, as part of a comprehensive fleet modernization strategy.
A source familiar with Air India’s operations noted that the airline’s modernization efforts are focused on improving service quality. The introduction of new aircraft aims to refresh and expand its fleet for better competitiveness on international routes.Air India has launched a daily route from Bengaluru to London Heathrow, utilizing slots leased from SAS, primarily available in winter. The Boeing 787-8 will depart Bengaluru at 19:30 and return from Heathrow at 21:05. This move complements recent upgrades to Air India’s Delhi-Heathrow services, which now operate three times daily using slots from Vistara. Air India is shifting its focus to Heathrow for potentially greater profitability, moving from Gatwick, where it had initially increased Bengaluru flights. However, it will continue to operate from Gatwick to other major Indian cities like Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi, benefiting from lower operating costs and less competition.
Air India’s Airbus A350-900s feature 28 enclosed business class suites in a 1-2-1 layout, matching the Boeing 777-200LRs and surpassing the 787-8. The aircraft also offers 24 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout and 264 economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout.For the winter schedule, the A350 will operate on the following routes: Delhi to Bengaluru: Two daily flights at 03:00 and 08:00, returning at 07:45 and 12:20 until December 31. Delhi to Dubai: Daily flights at 20:45, returning at 00:15 until October 31. Delhi to London Heathrow: Two daily flights at 02:35 and 07:30, returning at 08:45 and 13:30. From November 1, Delhi to New York JFK will replace the Boeing 777-300ER, with flights at 02:30 and returns at 10:55. Daily service from Delhi to Hyderabad at 16:15, returning at 19:45. A new daily service from Delhi to New York will start on January 2, replacing the 777-200ER and 777-300ER, with flights at 02:30 and returns at 11:15.Air India’s move to shift its Bengaluru service to Heathrow highlights a strategy focused on maximizing revenue rather than volume. Heathrow offers better opportunities for business and premium economy travelers compared to Gatwick. While Gatwick will continue to serve secondary routes from cities like Ahmedabad and Goa, Air India’s dual-hub approach allows it to target diverse passenger segments effectively.As the airline expands its fleet with new A350-1000s and 777-9s, it aims to modernize its widebody aircraft and retire older models. This fleet upgrade and route enhancement support Air India’s goal of strengthening its position in international aviation, emphasizing reliability, comfort, and frequency in its European and North American services.
