Air India hopes to secure additional slots at London Heathrow airport

With over 700,000 annual passengers and 21 per cent market share Air India is the largest carrier on India-United Kingdom routes

Air India hopes to secure additional slots at London Heathrow airport round the year, which will help it grow sales and make the airline more attractive to potential suitors.

Slots at Heathrow are highly coveted and scarce. In the past, airlines spent millions of dollars to lease or purchase them from other carriers. Air India has obtained three additional slot pairs free of cost on a temporary basis in winter season, apart from the 28 pairs of slots it already has. It will operate 11 flights between Mumbai-London Heathrow in February and March.

“On passenger demand, Air India is going to introduce