Virgin Atlantic launched its third route between the UK and India this week, with a daily service commencing between London Heathrow and burgeoning Indian tech hub Bengaluru.

At a celebratory event to mark the occasion in India's third-largest city, the carrier also announced the addition of a second daily service between London and Mumbai, starting on 27 October, as it increases its focus on the country.

Virgin also operates flights between Heathrow and Delhi, giving the airline five daily departures to the country from this autumn, accounting for around ten per cent of the airline's global capacity. The expansion means the airline will offer more than a million seats to India in 2025, a 350 per cent uplift since 2019.

Speaking to BTN Europe onboard the new service, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said India is a key strategic market for the airline, drawing alongside the Caribbean in terms of the capacity it provides, with a mix of business traffic, VFR passengers (visiting friends and relatives) and also leisure travel due to its codeshare partnership with IndiGo which offers onward connections to 36 destinations.

"Bengaluru is a fast-growing tech city that fits our profile," said Weiss, noting the city is home to more Unicorns ¨C privately owned companies valued at more than $1 billion ¨C than Delhi and Mumbai combined.

Virgin Atlantic highlighted the slower return of corporate travel ¨C compared to leisure ¨C in its 2023 financial results published today in which it reported record revenues and narrowed losses compared to 2022. It is targeting a return to profitability this year.

¡°I am thrilled to be here in Bengaluru, celebrating not one but two new Virgin Atlantic services," said Weiss at a press conference in the Indian city. "There is a huge opportunity for us in India, it has a dynamic, fast-growing economy and we¡¯re anticipating huge growth in demand for international travel from the region. These new flights reaffirm our commitment to the country."

Flights to Bengaluru, operated by Boeing 787-9s, depart London Heathrow at 12.25 and arrive at 02.45 the following day. The return flight departs at 04.35 and arrives in London at 10.45.