British Airways, which launched its first direct flights to India's high-tech hub of Bangalore last month, said on Monday it would boost the number of direct flights to India to 42 from 35 by mid-2006.
Europe's third-largest airline said the increased direct flights would be between London Heathrow and the Indian cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore. India is its biggest international long-haul market besides the United States.
The BA announcement comes as other foreign airlines kick off direct links to key cities in India. Continental Airlines Inc last month started non-stop service between Newark and New Delhi, India's capital, while Air France KLM began a new service last month between Paris and the southern Indian city of Bangalore five times weekly. BA told a news conference in Bangalore it hopes to expand its network to other cities including Hyderabad, also in the south.
"India has represented a very attractive market for BA in the past and it continues to do so today," Chief Executive Willie Walsh told reporters.