29 NOVEMBER 2021

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Article from BTNews 29 NOVEMBER 2021

British Airways returns to Gatwick

British Airways is expected to return to Gatwick South from the start of the summer season with a full European schedule backing up its Caribbean programme.

An announcement is anticipated any day now when bookings will open. 

It is expected that the destinations will generally be the same as previous, with enhancements, the services flown by two-class Airbus A320 series aircraft.  A new company called BA EuroFlyer has been registered and will operate in much the same way as the highly successful BA CityFlyer airline at London City Airport. For the travelling public it will be British Airways, although technically a franchise which will publish its own results and CAA statistics.

As reported in Business Travel News (see issue 15 November) BA Chief Executive and Chairman Sean Doyle said: “Our plans for a new BA subsidiary to fly short-haul at Gatwick are progressing well, and whilst we still have some further negotiations to sort, it looks likely that we will be up and running to fly the summer schedule.”  A start date of 27 March is expected.

There are winners and losers as with all these things and BA will retain its existing slots much to the chagrin of Wizz, who clearly had eyes on them, although many of the former Norwegian long-haul destinations remain in abeyance.  BA users will be able to add Avios Club points and the use of the airline’s south terminal lounge.  Last week the airline announced a new route from Gatwick to Doha. It also has a full programme to the Caribbean through the winter.  Gatwick will be clearly delighted that Britain’s flagship airline will be back for next year in a meaningful manner.

www.ba.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum


Marge Amen, Holborn - London

It looks like the pandemic, in perverse way, has worked for British Airways. A new airline has been created and a fresh start made for BA at Gatwick. The only thing I don’t follow is the statement that the airline has lost money at Gatwick in the years up to 2019. Surely Walsh would have closed it down, or his he really a softy.


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