Aviation

Air India Expands International Routes with Bengaluru to London Heathrow Flights

Air India, a leading airline in India, has announced an exciting expansion of its route network. Starting from 27 October 2024, the airline will launch daily, non-stop flights between Bengaluru and London Heathrow.

This new service replaces the existing Bengaluru-London Gatwick route, increasing the frequency of flights between Bengaluru and London from five times a week to seven times a week.

How Bomb Threats Affect Airlines and Their Costs

The non-stop flights will be operated using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Each aircraft will feature 18 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 238 spacious seats in Economy, adding an impressive 3,584 seats per week in total for inbound and outbound travel at London Heathrow. Currently, Air India operates 31 flights weekly to London Heathrow from its hubs in Delhi and Mumbai.

In addition to the new Bengaluru-Heathrow route, air india will continue to provide 12 weekly flights a350-900 air india route to London Gatwick from four Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi. This strategic move enhances Air India’s overall capacity to London, now totaling 31 weekly flights from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai.

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Switching from London Gatwick to London Heathrow is a pivotal decision for Air India. Heathrow is one of the busiest and most prestigious airports globally, known for its excellent connectivity to international destinations. air india refurbishment, allows Air India to better position itself in the competitive aviation market by securing valuable landing slots at Heathrow.

Flight Schedule between Bengaluru and London Heathrow (Effective 27 October 2024)

Flight #	Sector	Departure	Arrival	Days of Operation
AI133	Bengaluru – London Heathrow	14:20	19:30	Daily
AI132	London Heathrow – Bengaluru	21:05	12:20 (+1)	Daily

Bookings for the new flights are now open across all platforms, including Air India’s official website, mobile app, air india wifi and authorized travel agents. This initiative reflects the airline’s commitment to providing convenient travel options for tech-savvy customers who prefer digital booking platforms.

Aviation

How Bomb Threats Affect Airlines and Their Costs

Bomb threats create significant problems for airlines, impacting both their operations and finances. When a threat is reported, airlines often have to divert or delay flights to ensure passenger safety. This precautionary measure is essential, but it comes with a hefty price tag.

For instance, a recent Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted to New Delhi due to a bomb threat, resulting in a rescheduling of the flight. On the same day, two IndiGo flights bound for Jeddah and Muscat also faced similar threats, leading to delays of several hours. These incidents raise critical questions about the costs airlines incur due to bomb threats.

A 17-yr boy was arrested for making a hoax bomb threat, causing multiple flight diversions and delays.

Airlines face various expenses when responding to bomb threats. These include additional fuel costs for rerouting, airport fees for landing and parking, and compensation for affected passengers. The diversion, deplaning of passengers, and necessary security re-checks create a logistical nightmare for airlines, leading to substantial financial losses throughout the process.

The costs can quickly add up. For example, the extra fuel, catering, and airport charges can cost an airline around Rs 12 lakhs per hour. The longer the delay, the more money the airline ends up spending. Some estimates suggest that an airline could incur as much as Rs 50 lakhs in extra costs for each diversion related to a bomb threat.

Moreover, these disruptions can affect flight schedules, particularly for budget domestic carriers that have shorter turnaround times between flights. This not only impacts the airline’s bottom line but also causes inconvenience for passengers, especially those with connecting flights or those traveling for emergencies.