Kolkata, March 7: British Airways has announced special services for all it passengers across the five Indian airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore — served by it. The services that are being offered include the introduction of a team of facilitators to greet and assist British Airways’ First, Club World, and Executive Club customers through the airport.

The team also escorts British Airways customers to the baggage screening area where screening facilities are provided on priority basis. British Airways has introduced a ‘First Bag Drop’ counter which allows customers who have checked-in online to quickly drop their bags and proceed for security checks rather than join long queues at check-in counters.

These services are in addition to the existing services that are being offered by the British Airways which include customer conveniences like providing mineral water to all British Airways customers, online boarding passes (only from Bangalore currently), and the airline’s award-winning website Manage My Booking, on ba.com enables customers to book and manage their flights online, putting them in control of their travel plans.

A BA statement quoted Pankaj Mehta, customer services manager, north and east India, as saying: “We believe that the experience on the ground is as important as their experience in-flight.”

British Airways currently operates 35 flights a week from London Heathrow to five cities in India, including double daily service to Mumbai, three times per week to Kolkata. From May 4, 2006, the airline will operate five flights a week from Chennai and six flights a week from Bangalore. From April 8, there will be two flights a day from Delhi.

With the addition of these flights British Airways will operate 42 direct flights a week from India to London Heathrow.