British Airways CEO Sean Doyle calls for liberalisation of India-UK air services agreements

British Airways CEO Sean Doyle calls for liberalisation of India-UK air services agreements

A British Airways Boeing 747.



British Airways chief executive officer Sean Doyle on June 30 said that there is a need for India and the United Kingdom to negotiate additional flying rights to operate more flights to Delhi and Mumbai from London.

"BA (British Airways) and VA (Virgin Atlantic) have completely utilized the air services agreements (ASAs) to operate flights from London to Delhi and Mumbai. There is a need to open them up," Doyle told reporters at a press conference in Delhi.

He added that British Airways had asked policymakers on both sides to view aviation as a catalyst for the expansion of trade ties.

"ASAs must keep pace with growing demand and should be more liberal,” Doyle said.

British Airways operates three daily flights to Mumbai from Heathrow Airport in London and two daily flights to Delhi from London, while Virgin Atlantic operates one daily flight between London and Mumbai and two daily flights between London and Delhi.

In total both airlines combined operate 28 weekly flights to Mumbai from London and 28 weekly flights to Delhi from London.

Doyle became the second head of an international airline to call for increased bilateral flying rights to India after Emirates Airline's President