SpiceJet will be the first Indian low-cost airline to connect to the United Kingdom when it launches non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai to London’s Heathrow Airport starting 4 December. 

Three weekly flights will operate under the air bubble agreement between India and UK, with two weekly flights coming from Delhi and one weekly service from Mumbai. 

SpiceJet will deploy its Airbus A330-900 neo aircraft for these flights. The 371-seater twin-aisle A330 has a configuration of 353 economy and 18 business class seats. 

Designated as an “Indian scheduled carrier” to operate the UK and US route, SpiceJet initially secured slots at the London Heathrow Airport from 1 September to 23 October 23, but Heathrow later extended the slots for the entire winter schedule. 

Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director at SpiceJet, was pleased to make the announcement. “This is a huge milestone for us and I am proud of the fact that SpiceJet will be the first Indian low-cost airline to operate non-stop long-haul flights to the UK. London is one of the busiest long-haul destinations from India and our convenient flight timings should suit the convenience of our passengers perfectly,” he said. 

“While the last few months has been the worst-ever period for the global aviation industry battling the Covid pandemic, I am proud of the determination and resolve shown by Team SpiceJet. From repatriating over 1.3 lakh Indian nationals from across the globe including Amsterdam, Toronto, Moscow, Rome and London to operating wide-body passenger and cargo flights to now starting flights to Heathrow, the last few months have been very significant for us. Providing non-stop connectivity from India to different parts of the world and strengthening our own airport hubs has been a long–cherished dream and with our London operations we have taken a small step in that direction,” he added. 

The A330-900 neo can easily fly non-stop from India to major destinations like New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Paris, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Johannesburg, and São Paulo amongst. 

On 20 August, SpiceJet operated its first long-haul charter flight from London’s Heathrow airport to repatriate 329 Indian and British nationals. 

With the new London service, passengers from the UK can connect to India’s other domestic destinations from Mumbai and Delhi.