British Airways will strengthen its position as Britain’s leading shorthaul airline when the 2005 summer timetable comes…
British Airways will strengthen its position as Britain’s leading shorthaul airline when the 2005 summer timetable comes into effect over the Easter weekend.
Thirteen new European services will operate this summer, lifting the total of daily BA flights between Britain and the Continent of an average of 631, well in excess of any other operator.
In addition, British Airways will schedule an average of 372 daily flights within the UK and across the Irish Sea, covering 60 routes.
Passenger loads on shorthaul routes are up this year, reflecting passengers’ appreciation of the airline’s value-for-money fares, conveniently located airports, complimentary on-board food and drink and overall customer service.
The launch of services from London Heathrow to Shanghai, subject to approval from the Chinese authorities, is the longhaul highlight of the new summer schedule. There will be an average of 179 intercontinental flights a day, to 93 destinations.
In total, the airline and its franchise partners, will fly to 206 destinations around the world and operate 1,182 flights each day.
Key changes to the airline’s route network, which start on March 27 are:
- A five times a week service from London Heathrow to Shanghai, subject to approval from the Chinese authorities.
- Five new services from London Gatwick including four flights per week to Salonika in Greece, three per week to Split in Croatia and five per week to Vilnius in Lithuania. From May 1, 2005, a new three times a week service to Bucharest in Romania and from June 2, 2005, three flights per week to Sofia in Bulgaria.
- British Airways CitiExpress launches two new services from Bristol with daily flights to Milan and six flights per week to Zurich.
- British Airways’ franchise partner GB Airways starts a new service from London Gatwick to Heraklion in Crete from May 3 and five new services from Manchester, including Malaga which started on March 18 and flights to Dubrovnik, Malta, Paphos and Tenerife from May 16.
Robert Boyle, British Airways’ director of commercial planning, said: “This summer, our network capacity will increase by three per cent compared to summer 2004 and focuses on exploiting opportunities for profitable growth. British Airways operates more flights into Europe than any other carrier.”
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