‘Incredible potential’: British Airways eyeing expansion in India, says COO; cites rising demand, growth of local carriers
British Airways is preparing to expand its India operations to tap into the country’s fast-growing aviation market and rising outbound travel demand, a senior airline executive said, citing the country’s “incredible potential”.The carrier, which has been flying to India for more than a century, currently operates 56 weekly flights from Indian cities to London — three daily services from Mumbai, two from Delhi, and one each from Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.Subject to regulatory approvals, British Airways plans to add a third daily Delhi–London flight next year.“We are always looking to continue to expand our services as demand grows stronger.
We continue to keep our network schedule under constant review to ensure we provide connectivity and choice for our customers,” British Airways Chief Operating Officer Rene de Groot told PTI.“As demand strengthens, we remain focused on expanding our services and elevating the travel experience,” he added.
India is BA’s second-largest market
India is now British Airways’ second-biggest market after the US, with the airline maintaining crew bases in all five Indian cities it serves.
De Groot said local hiring remains central to the airline’s service proposition.“In India, we continue to create employment opportunities, and support regional economies — all while promoting the best of Britain,” he said.British Airways also runs CallBA, its India contact centre located in Gurugram, which employs around 2,000 staff offering round-the-clock assistance to customers across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific.“From a people perspective, we have invested heavily in India and steadily expanded our colleague presence here, with CallBA and our five Indian cabin crew bases growing in size,” De Groot noted.
Network expansion and partnerships
The airline maintains a codeshare partnership with IndiGo and, through its wider collaboration with Qatar Airways, serves 13 Indian destinations with a total of 148 weekly flights — including direct British Airways services from London and Qatar Airways connections via Doha.Earlier this year, the airline launched a Meet and Assist service for travellers needing extra support while flying from India to the UK.De Groot said the rapid expansion of Indian carriers is a positive sign for the market.“We view the dynamic growth of Indian carriers like IndiGo and Air India as a positive development for the aviation industry and for India’s emergence as a global aviation hub,” he also told PTI.“India is our second-largest market, and the rising demand, coupled with the expansion of carriers like IndiGo amongst others, reflects the incredible potential of this market.”
Strong India–UK travel corridor
The UK remains a preferred destination for Indian travellers — particularly for tourism and education — aided by the India–UK Free Trade Agreement.
About 500,000 Indians visit the UK each year, and the Indian diaspora continues to be a strong driver of travel demand.
