dailynewsnblog
When flights are considered, British Airways is the second-largest carrier serving the UK this year, after easyJet. As you’d expect, the oneworld member’s dominance varies geographically. BA ranks second domestically, third for short-haul international services, but is—not surprisingly—by far the largest operator for long-haul services.
When mainline, BA CityFlyer, and BA EuroFlyer are combined, Cirium Diio data shows that over 270 routes will be available in 2026. This includes a handful of links that will end, such as those from London Heathrow to Cologne, Riga, and Stuttgart, while Abu Dhabi flights are suspended until much later in this year. But for the purpose of this article, the Group will introduce ten routes.
BA Will Begin These Ten New And Returning Routes In 2026
When Cirium data is used to examine the airline’s network in 2025 with what is planned for 2026, the following routes will join or rejoin its network. As all of them have been announced before, and some have been analyzed before, this article simply summarizes them. And as it is only March, it is possible that additional markets may be announced to commence in the winter.
Pleasingly, the additions are from five UK airports. However, only two of them are from outside London, although that is hardly surprising. More coming links are from airports other than 
Heathrow, which is good to see. It is notable that only one route will be served year round.
Coming markets from the UK’s busiest airport include BA’s second route from Heathrow to the Channel Islands, with the reintroduction of Guernsey flights after a very long absence. It last served the British Crown dependency of Guernsey from Gatwick until 2003, using CityFlyer’s ATR 72s. At just 148 nautical miles (274 km), it will now be BA’s new third-shortest route from the UK capital.
|
Start Date* |
Route |
BA’s Operations** |
|---|---|---|
|
April 19 |
Heathrow to Guernsey |
Daily A319/A320neo (year round). Guernsey was last on BA’s map in 2003 |
|
April 19 |
Heathrow to St. Louis |
Four weekly 787-8/787-9*** (seasonal). A brand-new market from Heathrow and new to BA’s network |
|
April 30 |
Gatwick to Kalamata |
Up to daily A320ceo/A321ceo (seasonal). Switched from Heathrow, with flights until 2025 |
|
May 9 |
Glasgow to Palma de Mallorca |
Weekly E190 (seasonal). New to BA’s network |
|
May 14 |
Heathrow to Tivat |
Three weekly A320ceo (seasonal). New to BA’s network. Tivat last had Heathrow flights with Air Serbia in 2006 |
|
May 23 |
City to Toulon |
Two weekly E190 (seasonal). New to BA’s map. Toulon was last served by the airline in 2004 (from Gatwick) |
|
May 23 |
Stansted to Olbia |
Two weekly E190 (seasonal). New to BA’s network |
|
May 24 |
Gatwick to Chania |
Two weekly A320ceo/A321ceo (seasonal). New to BA’s map. Also flown from Heathrow |
|
July 18 |
Glasgow to San Sebastián |
Weekly E190 (seasonal). A brand-new market. Not previously flown by any airline |
|
July 21 |
Heathrow to Orlando |
Three weekly 777-200ER (only 18 departures in July/August). Last served by the airline in 2022 |
|
* Known as of March 11, and subject to change |
** Known as of March 11, and subject to change *** The 787-9 will be used on the first two services |
BA From Heathrow To Missouri
On April 19, in time for the peak summer with the highest demand and fares, the oneworld airline will take off for St. Louis. It is bound to feature in my weekly celebratory article, which showcases notable new routes (see the most recent edition).
Nearly all flights will be on the carrier’s new 204-seat 787-8, which is its lowest-capacity widebody and has new Club Suites. St. Louis last had London service in 2003, when American ceased flying to Gatwick, with the route inherited from TWA.
Along with Lufthansa, which serves Missouri from its Frankfurt hub, BA will also target the 800+ daily round-trip passengers who fly between St. Louis and Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. Naturally, Heathrow was comfortably the largest unserved long-haul destination. While underpinned by substantial financial incentives, the new route seems to make sense. Of course, we will have to see how it does.
Only 69% Full: British Airways’ 10 Emptiest US Routes Revealed
How many of them can you guess? Discover them all here!
BA Resumes Heathrow-Orlando Flights After Four Years
Everyone knows that BA primarily serves the ever-popular leisure destination of Orlando from Gatwick aboard higher-capacity and lower-premium so-called Gatwick-configured 777-200ERs. But for a brief period in the peak summer, coinciding with UK school holidays, it will fly from Heathrow to O-Town once again.
The service from the UK’s busiest airport will only run between July 21 and August 29. All flights will be on 272-seat 777-200ERs, with new Club Suites. In the five-week period, all services will leave Heathrow at the fun time of 8:20 am, which will be BA’s joint-earliest transatlantic flight time, alongside Heathrow to New York JFK.
