UPDATE:

British Airways will start five flights a week from Delhi and Mumbai to Heathrow airport in London from 17 August and four flights per week from Heathrow airport to Hyderabad and Bangalore as per a bilateral arrangement signed with the Indian government.

"British Airways will be able to take all customers eligible under the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs nonstop to London and beyond on British Airways' current flight network," it stated.

Jan Thompson, UK's Acting High Commissioner to India said, “I am delighted to see British Airways running direct flights between our countries again. This will be welcome news tp the many stduents, professionals and British travellers who need to return to the UK. We are grateful to the Government of India for allowing UK carriers to re-establish the route, and look forward to seeing more flights soon."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/british-airways-to-resume-relief-flights-as-india-sets-up-air-bubble-with-uk/articleshow/77420000.cms

In India currently, all international commercial passenger flights remain suspended till 31 August at least and the aviation ministry will take a decision on when to open these up depending on how the pandemic progresses in the country.

However some international flights have been operational in these months, mostly as repatriation flights or for critical needs for passengers. India has also entered into various agreements with other countries on operating flights internationally. While the details are yet to be announced, the Indian government has given permissions to UK carrier/s to start operating flights to and from India - though the granular details are not yet available but expected to be announced soon. Keep watching this space to find out more in the next couple of weeks. 

Budget carrier Indian airline SpiceJet has announced it will be starting flights to the UK next month and has secured slots at Heathrow Airport. The airline stated they will start from September and will continue at least till the end of October and will resume normal flights when the Ministry allow it. 

We are hopeful both these flight arrangements will benefit Indian students and enable them to reach UK campuses in time to start courses, or maybe just after. We continue to stress the message that the UK is safe and welcoming to Indian students: if the challenges of finding a flight can be removed, a lot of confidence will be restored.

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-uk-india-agree-on-transport-air-bubbles-for-international-air-connectivity-2835606

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/spicejet-to-commence-flight-services-to-uk-from-next-month/article32265648.ece

If you have any questions please write to Aatreyee.guhathakurta@britishcouncil.org (Regional Marketing and Communications Manager, International Education Services, South Asia).