London-based airline company, Virgin Atlantic's first-ever non-stop flight from the Heathrow Airport (LHR) touched down at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, India on April 1.
The flight departed from Heathrow Airport on March 31 at 12:25 p.m.(BST), and reached Bengaluru at 2:45 am (IST) on April 1. The new daily direct connection marks the airline’s fourth daily service to India which is at strengthening the airline's presence in the country.
"Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural Boeing B789 flight from Heathrow Airport arrived this morning. The culmination of months of hard work by the Bengaluru airport and Virgin Atlantic teams, offering more choices for our passengers to visit London now," said Satyaki Raghunath, chief operating officer, Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL).
Welcome to @BLRAirport!! @VirginAtlantic’s inaugural @Boeing #B789 flight from @HeathrowAirport arrived this morning. The culmination of months of hard work by the #BLRAirport and #VirginAtlantic teams and more choices for our passengers to @visitlondon now. #avgeek #BLRconnects pic.twitter.com/gLaVUrdidj
— Satyaki Raghunath (@SatyakiRaghuna1) April 1, 2024
“Today we landed in our newest destination, Bengaluru. Known as the Silicon Valley of India, the city is a thriving hub for business and innovation. Beyond business, this multicultural garden city is full of opportunities to explore,” Virgin Atlantic, wrote on X, formerly twitter.
Touch down in @BLRAirport. Today we landed in our newest destination, Bengaluru. Known as the Silicon Valley of India, the city is a thriving hub for business and innovation. Beyond business, this multicultural garden city is full of opportunities to explore. pic.twitter.com/0mXAI9DWxq
— virginatlantic (@VirginAtlantic) April 1, 2024
The Bengaluru flights are operated using Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, equipped with 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, and 192 Economy seats, including Delight, Classic, and Light options, along with the airline's signature Upper-Class social space.
According to a statement released by the airline, the addition of flights to the IT hub is anticipated to result in nearly 500,000 seats annually between the UK and India. The statement also highlighted Virgin Atlantic's rebound from the pandemic-induced slowdown, emphasizing Bengaluru's role alongside its existing double daily services to Delhi, daily flights to Mumbai, and expanding codeshare with IndiGo, an Indian airline.
Since 2019, the British airline has ramped up its capacity to India by 250 percent. The newly announced flights will facilitate travel between Bengaluru and the UK, providing connectivity via London Heathrow to various destinations across North America, including Seattle, San Francisco, and New York JFK, through Virgin Atlantic and its joint venture partner Delta Air Lines.
Apart from its passenger flights, Virgin Atlantic will provide a swift and efficient cargo service, offering 20 tonnes of capacity on each flight. With Bengaluru and its surrounding region recognized as an industrial hub, there is anticipated high demand for cargo transportation. This demand stems from companies seeking to export and import various goods, including fashion, pharmaceuticals, and technology, between key markets in the UK, US, and India.
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