Air India's Heathrow - Calcutta flights, which were temporarily withdrawn in May for three months, is set to be axed completely according to press reports in India. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel told Metro: 'The flight is not doing well. The passenger load factor is poor. In all probability, the flight will be withdrawn.'
According to 'sources', the problem the flight is the timing. 'The timing is not convenient for passengers planning to take a connecting flight from London. The flight takes off from Calcutta at 13:15 and reaches Heathrow at 19:30 (local time). By the time it reaches London, the connecting flights for US and European destinations have left already. So, passengers have to wait for the next morning flight.'
If Air India withdraws operations from Calcutta, the city will be left with only one direct flight to London, run by British Airways. However, Air India officials denied that the three-times-a-week direct flight would be disbanded. A spokesman told the newspaper: 'There is no likelihood of the flight being withdrawn. The passenger load is picking up.' |
