Flights to the world's second most populated country are set to double after a major announcement from the nation's airline.

Passengers will set off for Bangalore on one of the five flights per week taking off from Gatwick Airport bound for India onboard its flag carrier Air India.

It was launched on Sunday and operates from the South Terminal on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday - marking Gatwick's fifth non stop connection to the country, alongside routes to Goa, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Amritsar.

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These Air India flights, alongside TUI’s flight to Goa, means there are now 19 flights per week between London Gatwick and India - and the airport said it is not slowing down any time soon.

Stephanie Wear, aviation development vice principal at Gatwick, said: “This new service to Bengaluru is excellent news for both passengers and businesses across London and the South East.

"This city’s dynamic tech industry and cultural significance makes it a fantastic addition to our route network.  

“It’s set to be a popular service, providing fantastic opportunities for both tourism and trade.” 

The flight takes around nine hours and takes off at 8.35pm in the UK to land in Bangalore at 10.50am.

The airport said it hopes to double its connectivity to India in the next five years with a focus on Delhi and Mumbai.