It is an inevitability. All airports gain and lose destinations, and London Heathrow is no exception. Of course, it is hoped that the number of additions will outweigh the cuts, with a growing portfolio helping with marketing. While airports may influence the process, it is ultimately in the hands of the airlines.

Network development never ends. In recent days, the UK has seen various changes. For example, British Airways confirmed the return of a long-haul route from Heathrow, while Eurowings will begin flying to London Gatwick for the first time. Aer Lingus will indeed shut its Manchester base, while Wizz Air UK has applied to fly to the US, albeit probably only on a charter basis for the World Cup.

Heathrow’s 14 Routes Starting In 2026

Credit: Alaska Airlines

They are shown below, many of which have been stated separately in the past. This article is, therefore, a summary of the situation. It is based on what is known and scheduled on Cirium Diio and OAG as of January 29. It is certainly subject to change, especially later in the year.

The additions involve some new or returning airlines to Heathrow’s portfolio. Alaska Airlines, which is meaningfully focusing on long-haul routes from its Seattle hub, will debut in May, ahead of the peak summer. One day, Heathrow is likely to see its 787-10s, which are on order.

Before then, Pakistan International will finally return, which is from the lifting of its UK ban and taking back Heathrow slots leased to Turkish Airlines. It plans two routes, including Islamabad, which is Heathrow’s largest unserved city in Asia. Having pulled out in 2024, Italy’s ITA Airways will also return to the UK’s busiest airport. As such, it will end service to Gatwick (its slots will be leased to Eurowings), while its Rome-London City route will cease.

IndiGo’s 2nd Heathrow Route Starts Next Week

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IndiGo made its Heathrow debut in October 2025, when its first flight—which was from Mumbai—touched down. India’s largest airline is, in this sense, very much still a new operator at the UK’s busiest facility. On February 2, it’ll introduce its second route, which is from Delhi. It’ll operate up to five times a week.

A complication is that IndiGo does not have summer slots at Heathrow for its Delhi route, at least for the time being. As such, its final departure from Heathrow is set for March 28, the final day of the northern aviation winter based on IATA slot seasons. Unless this changes, the route would have existed for less than two months, before returning next winter. It’ll probably change. It has year-round slots for Mumbai flights.

IndiGo will introduce Delhi flights despite the continued need for Indian carriers to avoid Pakistani airspace. Obviously, this means they must detour, which adds time and additional fuel burn. Air India must also do so, while British Airways and Virgin Atlantic—which also serve Delhi—don’t. In this sense, the UK operators have a bit more of a competitive advantage, albeit only temporarily.

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British Airways Adds Record 26th Nonstop US Route From London Heathrow

The airline plans a record-breaking operation from Heathrow to the US in the peak summer.

Only One Destination Is Brand-New To Heathrow’s Map

Credit: British Airways

If airlines are stripped out, only one of the destinations mentioned in the table—St. Louis—is brand-new to Heathrow’s network. It has never had flights there before, which makes the addition all the better. However, it did have flights to Gatwick with American until 2003, which had, of course, inherited the route from TWA.

You might be wondering about the ever-popular Thai destination of Phuket. While the gateway to beaches and more continues to have TUI flights from Gatwick, it was once also linked to Heathrow. Thai Airways operated during the pandemic, with flights tagged with Bangkok. However, Virgin Atlantic’s launch in October will mark the first time flights have existed in normal times.