The airline will start flying three times per week from Manchester to Mumbai on 19 December with a twice-weekly route to Delhi due to follow on 5 January.

The Manchester flights will complement Virgin’s existing routes to the two Indian cities from Heathrow, which relaunched in September.

Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We’re delighted to launch new flying from our home in the north in Manchester.

“India boasts the largest foreign-born population in the UK and we’re anticipating that post Covid-19, the demand to travel home to visit loved ones will increase.

“Both Mumbai and Delhi are popular year-round destinations, and we look forward to welcoming travellers from the North and Midlands onboard as demand for leisure and business travel gradually increases to the region.”

Virgin plans to fly Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on both routes featuring economy, premium economy and Upper Class cabins.

Andrew Cowan, chief operating officer at Manchester Airports Group, added: “Securing direct services to two major Indian cities will unlock a wide range of benefits to the whole of the north.

“It is pleasing to see Virgin Atlantic make a further commitment to the north, following the recent announcement of its new service to Pakistan and building on the success of its routes to the US and the Caribbean in recent years.”