Birmingham-India air link gets boost with daily flights from November
Air India will begin operating daily services from Birmingham in November, it was confirmed today.
The company’s Birmingham-Delhi-Amritsar operation will be extended from the current four flights a week to daily when its 18th Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’ aircraft is brought into service.
The decision represents a welcome boost for the regional economy. The West Midlands already attracts more direct foreign investment from India than anywhere else in Britain outside of London.
Air India commercial director Pankaj Srivastava announced the growth plans at a celebratory dinner to mark the company’s first anniversary of operating from Birmingham Airport.
Mr Srivastava said: “Since starting our four times weekly Dreamliner programme from Birmingham last year, we have handled more than 80,000 passengers on board 210 flights, serving business passengers, tourists and people visiting friends and relatives.
“Air India is committed to develop and grow in this market and once we have taken the delivery of our 18th Dreamliner aircraft in November, we hope to launch the daily operation from Birmingham Airport.
“This will provide an extra 1,500 seats a week and give passengers greater choice, flexibility and opportunity to travel from the convenience of Birmingham Airport to Amritsar and Delhi, and onwards on Air India’s extensive global network.”
Air India’s current schedule operates from Birmingham each Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on its B787 Dreamliner aircraft, which has a 256 split seat cabin consisting of 18 business class and 238 economy seats.
Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe said: “We are extremely thankful to Air India for recognising the demand from travellers needing the flexibility of daily services from Birmingham.
“The West Midlands receives more foreign direct investment from India than any other region outside of London and Birmingham’s VFR market grew by 71 per cent in 2013, now attracting more visitors from India than any English city other than London.
“It’s therefore not surprising that the route has been such a success in its first year and I am certain that a daily service would make the Birmingham route even more appealing to Midlands’ travellers.”
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