Branson, in Mumbai after travelling on Virgin's inaugural flight from London, said he wanted to offer as many as 21 flights a week to various Indian destinations from London this year and is also keen to invest in a domestic Indian airline.

Bombay is Virgin Atlantic's second Indian destination after New Delhi. It was added after "10 years of lobbying," Branson said, and after Virgin, of which he owns 51 per cent, won the largest share of new rights in December to fly direct from Britain to India.

This had allowed Virgin to compete with British Airways on key routes but only by being able to fly more frequently could it cater to large demand from the business and leisure segments.

"If the skies are truly opened up, there could be as many flights going to India from Britain every year as there are to the US, but we have to get permission to fly daily soon, or it doesn't make sense for the travelling public or for us," he said.

Virgin Atlantic, which previously had a code-sharing agreement with India's international flag carrier Air-India Ltd. [AI.UL], operates daily services between New Delhi and London, and flies to Mumbai three times a week.

Branson hopes the airline will soon be permitted to fly daily to Bombay and fly weekly to at least seven more Indian cities. He expected more UK-India routes to be opened up after talks between the two governments, which he said would be held over the next few weeks.

Direct routes from London to cities such as Bombay, New Delhi and Bangalore are invaluable for airlines, as demand far outstrips the limited existing services, which are dominated by British Airways.

PERSONAL INTEREST

Branson is also keen to invest personally in India's domestic aviation industry, which is expected to grow by 25 to 30 percent per year over the next five years as incomes rise.

India allows up to 49 per cent foreign equity holding in domestic carriers but these cannot be held by a foreign airline.

"If I, as an individual, am permitted to invest several million pounds, I would love to -- but the rules are a bit murky and not that clear-cut," said Branson, whose whose business empire includes trains, music, holidays and personal finance.

Branson had earlier abandoned talks talks with India's only low-budget carrier, Air Deccan, to take a stake in the company.

Branson is also still in talks with Indian mobile phone service providers to give Virgin Mobile Holdings a foothold in the world's fastest-growing major mobile market, although he declined to say which firms.

Virgin Mobile, which buys airtime from partner T-Mobile, is Britain's fifth-largest mobile phone company.

"With the Indian government freeing up industry and encouraging competition in aviation and telecoms, it would be foolish of Virgin to not embrace India," said Branson, who plans to use the airline to help launch other businesses in India, including financial services and music.