DELHI- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) has announced significant changes to its London flight schedule for the Northern Summer 2025 (NS25) season. The airline will be adjusting frequencies on several routes between India and the United Kingdom.
These adjustments, effective from late March and early April 2025, reflect shifting demand and strategic realignments within the airline’s international network.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Air India (Guru Nanak – 550 Years Celebration Livery), VT-ANQ, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87549827Air India London Flights Changes
According to the latest data from Air India’s booking engine, the following changes will come into effect:
Goa Mopa (GOX) – London Gatwick (LGW)
- Current frequency: 4 flights per week
- Revised frequency: 3 flights per week
Air India will reduce frequency in this route to 3 times a week from present 4 times a week. The reduction in flights on this route suggests a slight dip in demand for direct connectivity between Goa’s new Mopa Airport and London Gatwick.
Goa remains a key tourist destination, especially for UK travelers, and Air India may adjust frequencies seasonally based on trends in passenger demand.
Flight reduction will be effective from 30th March 2025.
Photo: Mumbai Planes | Siddh DhuriAmritsar (ATQ) – London Gatwick (LGW)
- Current frequency: 3 flights per week
- Revised frequency: 4 flights per week
Air India will increase flights between Amritsar and London-Gatwick. The airline will add another frequency in the sector which will take the total flights to 4 times a week from 3 times a week now. The changes will be effective from 5th April 2025.
The increase in services on this route shows strong demand for travel between Punjab and the UK. With a large Punjabi diaspora in London and surrounding regions, Amritsar continues to be a crucial point of origin for leisure and as well as VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) traffic.
This additional weekly flight will enhance travel convenience and connectivity for passengers.
Kochi (COK) – London Gatwick (LGW)
- Current frequency: 3 flights per week
- Revised frequency: Service suspended (0 flights per week)
Air India is set to discontinue its Kochi-London Gatwick route from March 2025. The flights are suspended beyond 30th March 2025. This removes direct connectivity between Kerala and the UK.
The reasons for this suspension could range from lower-than-expected yields in the sector or redeployment of the aircraft on more profitable routes.
Passengers traveling between Kochi and London will now have to rely on alternate options, such as connecting flights via Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru.
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)London Gatwick’s Role
While London Heathrow remains the primary gateway for Air India’s UK operations, Gatwick serves as a crucial secondary airport. Particularly for leisure and VFR travelers.
Air India currently operates flights to London Gatwick from four Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi. These routes cater primarily to VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) and leisure travelers, particularly from regions with a significant Indian diaspora in the UK.
However, compared to major metro routes like Delhi and Mumbai to London Heathrow, these destinations are best served via Gatwick Airport due to a higher proportion of price-sensitive travelers.
Despite this, Air India’s continued presence at Gatwick allows it to tap into demand from travelers looking for cost-effective alternatives to India, while also serving niche markets with strong community links between India and the UK. Gatwick airport is a much cheaper option for airlines to fly to, compared to London-Heathrow airport.
Air India is likely to continue international expansion and network optimization under the Tata leadership. There may be further changes to its UK and Europe network in the coming months.
Photo: DnataBottom Line
Air India is currently facing a significant fleet shortage. This is evident from its inability to launch anticipated flights to key U.S. destinations like Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas (DFW) etc… This limitation has impacted the airline’s expansion plans, restricting its ability to tap into high-demand, long-haul routes.
This has to be one of the many reasons why the airline is making changes to its network. Air India is focusing on maximizing efficiency by reallocating capacity to higher-demand and higher-yielding routes.
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Air India to Expand international Flights from March 2025
The post Air India Announces New Flight Changes to London for Summer 2025 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
