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Our Bureau

Kolkata, Nov. 7 British Airways (BA) has decided to suspend its thrice-weekly direct flight between Kolkata and London Heathrowfrom March 28, 2009.

Direct air connectivity between Kolkata and London will be terminated totally as a result of this decision as BA is the only airline operating direct services in the route. Air India suspended its thrice-weekly Kolkata-London flight from October 26 this year.

BA officials pointed out that poor load at a time of high air turbine fuel prices and global recession were the reasons for the suspension.

“The route is not making a profitable contribution to our business and we are unable to sustain it,” Ms Amanda Amos, BA’s Commercial Manager, South Asia, said. India would, however, remain an important market for BA and it would continue with its growth plans on profitable routes, she added.

“There are no plans to suspend flights from any other Indian destinations,” a BA official told Business Line.

BA will operate more flights from India even after suspension of the Kolkata route as its new Hyderabad-London Heathrow flight, expected from December, would increase number of flights from 43 to 48, he said.

BA will operate more flights from India even after suspension of the Kolkata route. Its new Hyderabad-London Heathrow service, which is expected from December, would increase the number of flights from 43 to 48, he said.

Passengers already booked on flights after March 20 will be contacted for alternative arrangements, he added.

BA has been flying intermittently to Kolkata since 1930, while it started non-stop service in 2001.

More Stories on : Airlines | West Bengal

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