Direct Kolkata-London flight set to resume from September 16

KOLKATA: The first direct flight connection in over a decade between London and Kolkata is likely to resume from September 16, coinciding with the gradual unlocking of several other sectors even as the world, the country and the state continue to fight the pandemic.
If all goes well, the planned twice-a week direct Air India flights between the two cities will be the first since British Airways moved out of the sector in March 2009 after AI’s withdrawal in September 2008.
“AI is set to operate direct flights between the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata and Heathrow Airport in London on a regular basis between September 16 and October 24. These are part of the Vande Bharat mission flights, primarily to repatriate Indian citizens but will also carry those with long-term British or Indian visas with urgent travel needs,” an AI spokesperson told TOI.