Air-India on Saturday launched a new long haul flight from Delhi connecting Dhaka, Kolkata and London, with Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed saying it would go a long way in strengthening Indo-Bangla relations.

Flagging off the Delhi-Dhaka-Kolkata-London flight operated by a Boeing 777-200 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Ahamed expressed the hope that its frequency would soon be increased from weekly to daily.

Describing it has 'yet another feather in Air-India's cap,' Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said it would not only bring the two countries closer, but would also tap the large traffic between the two countries.

Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh Masud bin Momen said a large number of people travelling between the two countries for leisure, business and medical treatment would benefit from the flight.

Air-India CMD V Thulasidas said linking of Delhi and Dhaka was a major initiative to tap the travel market between the two destinations.

This is the third long-haul flight of the international flag carrier launched from Delhi in the past three months. The other two were Delhi-Frankfurt-Los Angeles and Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto.