Virgin Atlantic has announced that it will cease operations from London Heathrow Airport to Mumbai. The last flight will leave London on 2 May and return on 3 May.

Citing a fall in passenger demand and "irrational pricing" by its rivals, Virgin revealed that passenger numbers on the route declined by 18 per cent between January and November 2008.

A spokesperson for Virgin said that the suspension was "temporary" and that the airline would continue to operate flights to other Indian cities.

The representative told Business Traveller: "We will monitor the situation with a view to returning to the route when the economic situation might make it profitable to do so."

Related Articles:

• Ireland wants joint tourist visa with UK
• Kingfisher to join Oneworld Alliance
• Kingfisher to start London-Delhi route from 28 March
• Air India suspends flights
• Emergency fund for NRIs in distress
• Amritsar-London flight delayed... by a rat
• Virgin Atlantic to offer visas via its website
• 19% rise in flights from Heathrow to India
• Lakme Fashion Week features in British Airways TV ad
• Pilot strike continues at Jet Airways; London flights affected
• Jaguar becomes the first to be allowed to advertise on British Airways website
• BA offers free one-way upgrade on all India to UK flights till 31 August
• BMI moves call center jobs from India to US
• Kingfisher boosts UK trade presence
• India tightens swine flu advice