Air India is planning direct flights from Chennai to London from January, making it the ninth Indian city to have air links with the British capital.
The Chennai-London operations would be part of the travel bubble arrangements India has entered with several countries to operate international flights under with strict adherence to travel protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At present, Air India has non-stop flights to London from Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Kolkata and Amritsar.
“We have plans to commence direct operations between Chennai and London from January 2021,” an Air India spokesperson said.
Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country since March 23 due to the pandemic.
However, airlines have been permitted to operate special international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under the bilateral air bubble pacts since July.
Flights between India and the UK have been operating under an air bubble pact only post lockdown.
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