New Delhi: After several complaints about the rising fares between India and UK, the government on Thursday ordered to double the number of flights between the two countries from Monday.
India had suspended the flights on these routes during the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK last December. Currently, both the Indian and British carriers are allowed to operate 15 flights per week on this particular route.
Now, from August 16, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided that the number of flights will be doubled to 60 per week. 30 flights will be operated by Indian carriers, Air India and Vistara, while the other 30 will be operated by British carriers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Of the Indian operators, Air India will be flying 24 flights while Vistara will get to fly 4 flights.
As per officials, the move will bring down fares on the India-UK routes.
Notably, the number of Indian students taking admission into UK university and higher education courses has increased 19% (3,200 students) in 2021.
Also read: International flights to remain suspended till August 31
Last week, Sanjeev Gupta, Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat, Union Home Ministry, had complained on social media that an economy class ticket on Delhi-London flights of British Airways, Air India and Vistara for August 26 was priced between Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 3.95 lakh.
Soon after the complaint by the government official and several other flyers on the route, the Indian aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked the airlines operating on India-UK route should submit details about their fares.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation order, the increase in the cap will be effective from August 16, 2021, and will remain valid till further orders or till the resumption of scheduled international commercial passenger services, whichever is earlier.
