Sept 16 Onwards You'll Be Able To Fly From Kolkata To London Directly

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Sept 16 Onwards You’ll Be Able To Fly From Kolkata To London Directly

The regal Victoria Memorial and the Big Ben are now closer than you think as Kolkata-London direct flights are all set to resume services after over a decade-long wait. By Kumar Shree

As countries around the world are gradually lifting lockdowns, the Kolkata-London direct flight is all set to resume operations from September 16. Earlier, flag carriers of both the countries — Air India and British Airways — used to operate flights on the route but seized operations in September 2008 and March 2009, respectively. However, now again in 2020, Air India will operate new flights twice a week.

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As reported by The Times of India, an Air India spokesperson said, “AI is set to operate direct flights between the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata and Heathrow Airport in London regularly between September 16 and October 24. These are part of the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) flights, primarily to repatriate Indian citizens but will also carry those with long-term British or Indian visas with urgent travel needs.”

While the West Bengal government has not allowed any VBM flights to operate from its ground till now, the authorities are hopeful about getting a go-ahead for this one, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has herself previously lobbied for a Kolkata-London direct flight.

Since Coronavirus is very much still among us, these flights will have all the necessary precautions and preventive measures in place. Those travelling from London will have to undergo an RT-PCR test before boarding the flight and present a COVID-19 negative certificate upon arrival in Kolkata.

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Initially, the service will resume with 12 pairs of flights, but the authorities suggest that the operations will continue to become a part of the bilateral bubble agreement between India and the United Kingdom.

“We are very excited about the flights and what they mean for business and tourism in Bengal in future. It will, right now, be a huge relief for Indians stranded in the UK and Bengalis residing there who come home during Durga Puja every year,” Travel Agents Association of India Chairman (East), Manav Soni, told The Times of India.