AMRITSAR: The FlyAmritsar Initiative, which advocates enhanced air connectivity to Amritsar, has termed Air India’s deployment of larger 344-seat legacy B777-300ER aircraft on the direct Amritsar–London Gatwick and Amritsar–Birmingham routes as a positive capacity development for passengers travelling between Punjab and the United Kingdom. The aircraft type has replaced the 256-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner previously operating these services and offers 305 Economy Class, 35 Business Class and 4 First Class seats, adding 88 seats per flight while introducing First Class on both direct Amritsar–UK routes. Both services continue to operate three times weekly.Sameep Singh
In a press release, FlyAmritsar Initiative Global Convener Sameep Singh Gumtala said, “The deployment of the larger Boeing 777-300ER is an important capacity boost for direct connectivity between Punjab and the United Kingdom. The additional seats are particularly important during peak travel periods when passengers frequently face limited availability and higher fares.”
Gumtala, however, noted that the deployment represents a seat-capacity upgrade through a larger legacy aircraft, rather than the introduction of newly delivered or fully retrofitted aircraft. “While the B777-300ER provides significantly more seats and introduces First Class, these aircraft are still part of Air India’s legacy fleet. Passengers will expect the aircraft, including seats, inflight entertainment screens and cabin facilities, to be clean, properly maintained and fully functional. We hope Air India progressively assigns fully retrofitted or newer aircraft to the Amritsar routes as its fleet modernization programme moves forward,” he said.
The Initiative also urged Air India to explore codeshare or interline partnerships with airlines operating from London Gatwick and Birmingham. Gumtala said Air India has recently expanded such partnerships with several international airlines, enabling passengers to access many more destinations through a single itinerary. Similar arrangements from Gatwick and Birmingham could help Amritsar passengers connect onward to destinations across the UK, Europe and beyond, including cities and airports not currently served directly by Air India.
“Every passenger who chooses to fly directly from Amritsar strengthens the commercial case for Air India to increase frequencies and encourages other airlines to consider launching services from Amritsar. With suitable codeshare or interline partnerships at Gatwick and Birmingham, these direct Amritsar–UK flights can also serve as gateways for onward travel, making the routes more convenient for passengers and commercially stronger for the airline,” Gumtala added.
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
