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Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are to face increased competition on the lucrative routes to Delhi and Mumbai from a billionaire Indian businessman.
Naresh Goyal, the London-based entrepreneur, announced a US$3.7 billion ($5 billion) expansion of his privately-owned Jet Airways in a move that will put the airline head to head with the two UK carriers on services from London's Heathrow.
The investment includes an order for 30 new long-haul jets from Airbus and Boeing to upgrade Jet's service from next month to include a first class "bedroom in the sky".
Competition on UK-India routes has intensified in the last three year after the two governments agreed to liberalise the market. Last year about 1.5 million passengers flew between London and India.
Goyal, who ranks as the sixth richest Indian living in Britain, claimed Jet's services would undercut BA and Virgin on price.
- Independent
