Mamata leaves for London, speaks of ‘hectic journey ahead’
Times of India | 23 March 2025
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee left for London on Saturday evening to meet industrialists in the UK and seek investments for the state.
Before taking her flight, the CM told reporters outside Kolkata airport that she had a hectic journey ahead. "We will take two travel days to reach the UK via Dubai. It wouldn't have been the case, if there was a direct flight between Kolkata and London. We have been trying to get the flight operational for quite some time. Let's see what happens," said Banerjee. "It's a very hectic schedule as we must travel in the morning as well as night. Two days will be wasted in travel," the CM said.
The day-long closure of London's Heathrow Airport on Friday had impacted flight schedules globally. The last Air India flight from Kolkata to London had taken off on March 20. Banerjee said because of Heathrow closure, her flight schedule and the entire itinerary over the next few days had to be changed.
Banerjee boarded the 8.20pm Emirates flight with chief secretary Manoj Pant and two security personnel. The rest of her entourage, including officials of multiple departments and media personnel, will take a 9.10am Emirates flight on Sunday.
The CM will attend several business meetings in the UK and deliver a lecture at Oxford University on March 27. She will meet industrialists on March 25, and later attend a programme at the Indian High Commission. She will return between March 28 and 29. It will be her second visit to London.
On March 20, a fire broke out at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, near London, leading to a power outage at Heathrow Airport.