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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged British Airways to reinstate direct flights between London and Kolkata, citing high demand for the route. She made the appeal during an interactive session titled “Opportunities in West Bengal” in London on Tuesday, where she also encouraged British businesses to invest in green technologies, smart infrastructure, and clean energy in the state.
“My humble request to my friends from the UK airlines: Can you give us one direct flight? British Airways used to operate London-Kolkata flights, but before we came to power in 2011, the service was withdrawn. I do not know what the cause was. But now every flight is almost fully booked. We are also offering some fuel concessions. Whoever approaches us first, we will give them an advantage in fuel tax,” Banerjee stated.
History of London-Kolkata Direct Flights
British Airways had operated flights to Kolkata for nearly 80 years before discontinuing the service in March 2009. Air India also launched a direct Kolkata-London flight in 2005, but it was discontinued three years later due to low passenger load.
West Bengal’s Push for UK Investments
Beyond aviation, Banerjee emphasized the potential for collaboration between West Bengal and British industries in sectors such as automation, artificial intelligence, engineering, and green manufacturing.
“We welcome further partnerships in areas such as green technologies, smart infrastructure, and clean energy,” she said.
The UK has been a key partner in Bengal Global Business Summits (BGBS), with West Bengal securing over ₹23 lakh crore in investment proposals over the years. Banerjee highlighted that the British High Commission has proposed studies to help strengthen West Bengal’s tax revenue and develop green budgeting under India-UK cooperation.
Upcoming Address at Oxford University
During her London visit, Banerjee is also scheduled to deliver a lecture at the University of Oxford on Thursday before returning to India on Friday.
Sources By Agencies
