The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on August 12 said that it will allow 60 special flights to operate between India and the UK in the wake of rising demand for the service.
Currently, MoCA allows 30 special flights to operate between India and the UK as part of its Vande Bharat Mission in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the moment two groups of airlines — Indian carriers and British carriers — are each allowed to operate 15 flights per week on the India-UK route; this will be doubled from August 16 onwards.
The ministry’s decision comes just five days after a senior Indian Administrative Service officer on August 7 pointed out that economy-class tickets on Delhi-London flights of British Airways, Air India and Vistara were priced between Rs 1,20,000 and Rs 3,95,000.
Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines-promoted Vistara Airlines had said prices of flights were always a function of supply and demand.
“There are only 15 flights a week allowed currently on India-UK route for Indian carriers and when there is relaxation and more capacity allowed, it will automatically bring down prices,” Vistara had said on August 8.