India and the United Kingdom have agreed to increase the number of direct flights between the two countries from the present 19 to 40 per week in a phased manner.

This was decided at the bilateral negotiations held late last week in London between officials of the civil aviation ministry and the British Department of Transport, which were held as a follow-up to the talks Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had in July with his British counterpart Alistair Darling.

While seven flights would be added in the ensuing winter schedule, seven flights each would be added in summer and winter next year, an official spokesperson said.

At the talks late last week, it was also decided that Britain's designated carrier would be required to operate seven flights to Delhi and seven to Mumbai. The remaining flights can be operated to minimum of two other points of call available to the UK.

Besides Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, which were available to the UK before the talks, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin have been agreed as additional points of call, she said.

Indian designated carriers can now operate directly to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol, in addition to London, Manchester and Birmingham.