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British Airways’ latest expansion plan, the oneworld member revealed that it’ll offer a double daily service to Bengaluru for the first time. It’ll benefit from the continued problems of connecting at Gulf hubs, whether flying from London or North America or elsewhere. It comes as Virgin Atlantic increases its own service to Bengaluru, with up to 13 weekly departures this year. BA must be competitive.
BA’s network has seen many changes recently. For example, 12 new or returning routes will take off from London this year, with others from UK regional cities. However, 20+ routes have ended since January 2025, although some have simply switched London airports. On April 9, it was announced that its Jeddah route would end.
A Record Number Of Flights To Bengaluru
BA has had nonstop flights to Bengaluru since 2005. According to Cirium Diio data, it was the first airline with nonstop flights between London and the Southern Indian city. The now long-defunct Kingfisher operated in 2008/2009, while Air India materialized in 2018, followed by Virgin Atlantic in 2024.
Until now, BA has not had more than a daily service to Bengaluru. However, that will change on June 1, when a double daily offering will be available. While subject to change, it means BA will have a record nine daily services to India. It will comfortably be the carrier’s second most-served long-haul nation by flights. More on its wider Indian operation later in the article.
The higher frequency and the specific schedule will help BA further penetrate the US-Bengaluru market and grow its market share. This is especially in relation to Gulf carriers, which still have far fewer US flights than before the war. According to booking data, over 75,000 BA passengers transited at the UK’s busiest airport to reach the US last year. The top five markets were New York JFK, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Chicago O’Hare, and Washington Dulles.
|
Frequency |
Heathrow To Bengaluru; Local Times* |
Bengaluru To Heathrow; Local Times** |
|---|---|---|
|
Daily |
9:55 am-12:40 am+1 (new; 204-seat 787-8**) |
2:40 am-8:55 am (new; 204-seat 787-8) |
|
Daily |
2:00 pm-4:50 am+1 (204-seat 787-8, replacing the previously scheduled 777-200ER) |
6:50 am-1:15 pm (204-seat 787-8, replacing the previously scheduled 777-200ER) |
|
* First week of June |
** First week of June |
Hang On: Why So Many Bengaluru Flights?!
When all Indian cities are considered, booking data shows that approximately 3.8 million passengers traveled to/from London last year. Spread unfairly over the year, which completely ignores seasonality, 10,400+ people did so daily.
Just over one in two people connect en route, especially at Indian and Gulf hubs. However, the number of nonstop fights is increasing, with the arrival of IndiGo helping. Even before BA’s latest development, the current year was already down to have a record number of London-India flights. They are up 11% from the prior record. When Air India, BA, and Virgin are combined, the trio plans 34 weekly departures to Bengaluru in June. That’s 62% more than the prior record. Up to five daily departures are now available.
But why Bengaluru? In 2025, booking data shows that 320,000 round-trip passengers flew between London and the Southern Indian city. It was the third most-trafficked Indian market from the UK capital. And significantly, it is fast-growing. Traffic rose by a very strong 24% year-over-year and by 61% compared to 2023.
Thanks to higher premium demand, it also has reasonably decent yields, particularly within an Indian context. Across all airlines, passengers, and cabin classes, the average fare for Heathrow-Bengaluru was $837 each way (including a fuel surcharge). In contrast, it was $671 for Heathrow-Chennai, which covers even more distance.
British Airways Axes 20 Routes: Inside The Massive Network Cull
In the past year or so, the carrier has ended seven long-haul markets. But is everything as it seems?
BA Plans Nine Daily Flights To India
Let’s narrow the focus to the first week of June. In those seven days, BA plans nine daily departures between Heathrow and India. Compared to the same week last year, its offering has risen by 13% (up from eight daily), and by 19% from before the pandemic in June 2019 (up from seven to eight daily). Until now, nine daily departures have not been available.
The airline’s schedule in June sees three daily flights to Mumbai, two daily departures to Bengaluru and Delhi, and one daily service to Chennai and Hyderabad. They’ll leave Heathrow at 9:40 am (Mumbai), 9:55 am (Bengaluru), 10:20 am (Delhi), 12:40 pm (Chennai), 2:00 pm (Bengaluru), 3:30 pm (Hyderabad), 5:35 pm (Mumbai), 6:50 pm (Delhi), and 9:00 pm (Mumbai). They’ll arrive back at 6:50 am (Delhi), 7:00 am (Mumbai), 8:55 am (Bengaluru), 12:10 pm (Chennai), 1:15 pm (Bengaluru), 1:50 pm (Hyderabad), 3:00 pm (Mumbai), 3:20 pm (Delhi), and 6:15 pm (Mumbai).
