BA ups India capacity

British Airways is adding flights and bigger planes on India routes for summer 2026 as demand for nonstop travel to London rises. (travelbizmonitor.com) At peak summer, the airline plans to operate up to 70 weekly flights between India and London Heathrow and add more than 7,000 seats a week from India. The Hindu reported the increase follows a 196% surge in travel searches. (thehindu.com) Bengaluru gets an additional daily Heathrow flight from June 1 to October 24, 2026, taking the route to 14 weekly services on the Boeing 777. Hyderabad will also move from the Boeing 787 to the larger Boeing 777 in summer, adding 68 seats per flight. (thehindu.com) Delhi’s third daily Heathrow service, which began on April 7 and runs through May 31, will return in peak summer and then become permanent from late September. From June 1, British Airways will also put the larger Airbus A350 on the Delhi route, adding 59 seats per flight. (thehindu.com) Mumbai’s third daily Heathrow flight was initially scheduled from May 15 to May 31, but British Airways has extended it through June 19. TravelBiz Monitor said the carrier is also using larger aircraft on selected India services as part of the summer schedule. (thehindu.com) (travelbizmonitor.com) The changes come as British Airways says its timetables are set seasonally and can be adjusted during the year for operational needs. India is already one of the airline’s biggest long-haul markets from Heathrow, with service to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. (britishairways.com) (travelbizmonitor.com) The wider airline market is moving in two directions at once. British Airways parent International Airlines Group said in its 2025 results that long-term demand in its core markets remains strong, even as industry supply stays constrained. (iairgroup.com) At the same time, airlines are dealing with higher fuel risk. Gulf News reported on April 13 that jet fuel shortages tied to refinery bottlenecks, geopolitics, and rising demand are pushing up airline costs and fares worldwide. (gulfnews.com) That leaves British Airways trying to capture stronger India demand while the cost of flying remains volatile. For travelers, summer 2026 should bring more seats on key India-Heathrow routes, but not necessarily cheaper tickets. (travelbizmonitor.com) (gulfnews.com)