Indian airlines tap international routes under 'travel bubbles'

SpiceJet to become first low-cost carrier to start flights to London in December

SpiceJet will compete on the new London route with state-owned Air India and Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. © Reuters

KIRAN SHARMA, Nikkei staff writer

October 14, 2020 18:02 JST

NEW DELHI -- At a time when the global aviation industry has been drastically hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, India's airlines appear to be turning the crisis into an opportunity by expanding their international operations under the ongoing "travel bubble" arrangements.

The latest company to join the bandwagon is low-budget carrier SpiceJet, which earlier this month announced that on Dec. 4 it will launch non-stop services connecting Delhi and Mumbai with London's Heathrow Airport.