Amritsar (Raja Sansi International Airport)

Amritsar, the Indian city home to the most famous Sikh temple in the world, will become a new point in Malaysia Airlines’ network from November.

Flights from Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa and Kochi will transfer from London Heathrow.

The expansion of service to Qatar from three Indian cities coincides with the forthcoming FIFA World Cup.

Virgin Atlantic passengers will eventually be able to connect to 16 Indian cities beyond Delhi and Mumbai.

CEO Navdip Singh Judge says that if its long-haul low-cost model doesn’t work then that business model doesn’t work.

The carrier has been trying to start flights between the UK and India since 2016.

The two carriers are set to introduce more than 20 new routes in India over the coming months.

Jaipur is the focus for SpiceJet’s latest domestic expansion.

Connectivity is being enhanced from Jharsuguda and Hyderabad, while the Indian airline is also starting a new route to Ras Al-Khaimah.

This week: Hainan Airlines launches third European flight from Shenzhen; Cathay Dragon adds Davao City; and AirAsia X ups India focus.

This week: Air India adds new route from Birmingham Airport, plus why VLM Airlines is introducing an Antwerp to Zurich service.

POP plans to establish regular links from London Stansted to two Indian cities: Amritsar (Punjab) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat). Subject to the successful completion of a 60 day rewards-based crowdfunding exercise in association with Trillion Fund Ltd to raise £5 million, the airline could take to the air as early as October this year.

The new services to Amritsar, Chennai and Jaipur, will boost the SIA Group’s international network into India to 15 destinations, served by its mainline business, regional operation SilkAir, low-cost brand Tiger Airways and now its medium- and long-haul, low-cost unit, Scoot.

Since launching flights on the Amritsar - Delhi - Birmingham route on a four times weekly schedule on August 1, 2013, the carrier has handled more than eighty thousand passengers onboard 210 return flights, providing better connectivity between the Midlands and India for business passengers, tourists and people visiting friends and relatives.