We’re not quite sure what has prompted this, but British Airways has today e-mailed large numbers of members of its Executive Club who hold blue or bronze cards offering a complimentary Silver card (which affords privileges such as access to business class check-in desks and lounges) if they book a business class return from London to New York (subject to certain booking restrictions) in the next 90 days.
Tag: American Airlines
British Airways launches its inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Austin, Texas today
Today at 12:35pm UK time (if all goes to plan!) a Boeing 787 operating as British Airways flight BA191 will depart from London Heathrow Terminal 5. 10 hours and 25 minutes later it should land at Bergstrom International airport in Austin, Texas, completing the inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Austin.
Initially the service will operate five times a week, increasing to daily from 5 May 2014.
This is the first new transatlantic route launched by BA since Las Vegas in 2009 and San Diego in 2011.
It is noteworthy as this is the first route launched specifically for the Boeing 787 which has, to date, been used to either replace Boeing 767s on transatlantic flights or Boeing 777s on “thinner” Asia routes.
Although much has been made by BA and its parent company International Airlines Group that the Boeing 787 will aid the launch of new routes between London and Asia, we expect further transatlantic routes to by opened up by the 787, particularly because of the support provided by BA’s transatlantic joint-venture partner, American Airlines. Not only do more routes give BA network strength against Delta and Virgin Atlantic, but also the Middle Eastern carriers who have only begun to scratch the surface of the North America market.
Flights to Austin can be booked via BA.com or as codeshares via American Airlines.
Delta launches London Heathrow – Chicago O’Hare service from Sunday 26 October 2014
Delta Airlines is to launch a direct route from London Heathrow airport to Chicago O’Hare airport from Sunday 26 October 2014.
US Airways & American Airlines’ planned merger: What does this mean at London Heathrow?
American Airlines & US Airways are, after much speculation and uncertainty over regulatory approval (and significant concessions over slots at US airports), expected to merge.
As the two airlines have large domestic networks in the US much of the coverage has naturally focused on the impact in the US. However, the merger does have implications for travellers in London, particularly frequent flyers of British Airways and Oneworld which is what I focus on in this post.
Virgin Atlantic & Delta to operate a joint London Heathrow – New York “shuttle” service from 30 March 2014
Following the grant of anti-trust immunity by the US Department of Transportation, Virgin Atlantic and Delta have today confirmed they will co-ordinate their schedules to operate a nine times daily shuttle service on the London Heathrow – New York (Newark & JFK) route from 30 March 2014.
Delta proposes London – Salt Lake City & Seattle services under joint-venture with Virgin Atlantic
As expected, following Delta’s acquisition of a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic from Singapore Airlines, Delta and Virgin Atlantic have applied for anti-trust immunity for transatlantic flights from London Heathrow. Delta will continue to operate a joint-venture with Air France KLM for transatlantic flights to points beyond London Heathrow.