BA Airbus A319 aircraft at London Heathrow (Image Credit: British Airways)
British Airways will suspend flights from London to Bilbao from Sunday 27 March 2022.
Before COVID-19, BA flights to Bilbao operated from London Gatwick airport, having not long transferred from London Heathrow.
The route has more recently operated from Heathrow along with all other Gatwick short haul flights, but with brief periods of suspension. Indeed, no flights will operate from Saturday 8 January until Friday 4 February 2022.
Barcelona at Sunrise (Image Credit: London Air Travel)
British Airways is moving a number of short-haul routes between London Gatwick and Heathrow airports from late March 2019.
In addition, a number of routes that operate from both Gatwick and Heathrow will be “consolidated” at one airport.
No specific reasons have been given for the changes but it is likely to be due to a combination of commercial performance and operational requirements.
At the time of writing, it appears that not all online timetables have not been fully updated so it may be some time before changes show in the Manage My Booking tool.
Almeria
This route launched as a twice weekly summer seasonal route from Heathrow this year. It operated under flight numbers BA420 and BA421.
It will return next year from Gatwick between Sunday 31 March and Saturday 26 October 2019. Flights will operate four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The new flight numbers are BA2790 and BA2791.
Barcelona
This route will be suspended at London Gatwick from 31 March 2019. It currently operates from Gatwick up to three times daily.
BA will increase existing services to Barcelona from London Heathrow Terminal 3 from 49 to 58 flights a week to partially compensate.
BA will continue to codeshare with Vueling on London Gatwick to Barcelona.
Bilbao
This route currently operates from London Heathrow Terminal 3 year-round. It operates under flight numbers BA466, BA467, BA468 and BA469.
From 31 March 2019, it will operate from Gatwick on a summer seasonal basis to 26 October 2019. Flights will operate 12 times weekly. The new flight numbers are BA2684, BA2685, BA2686 and BA2687.
Menorca (Mahon)
This route operated as a summer seasonal route both from Gatwick and Heathrow this year. It launched at Gatwick this year and Heathrow from April 2016.
It will return next year from Gatwick only from Saturday 27 April and Saturday 28 September 2019. Flights will operate six times weekly.
Pisa
This route will be suspended at London Gatwick from 31 March 2019. It operates under flight numbers BA2600, BA2601, BA2602 and BA2603.
BA will increase existing services from London Heathrow from 11 to 18 flights a week to compensate. The route will also transfer from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Terminal 3.
Valencia
This route has operated from Gatwick since November 2015. It operates under flight numbers BA2794 and BA2795.
It will transfer to London Heathrow from 31 March 2019. Flights will operate 9 times weekly. The new flight numbers are BA408, BA409, BA422 and BA445.
British Airways Logo (Image Credit: British Airways)
The opening of Terminal 2 at London Heathrow this year has resulted in a large number of airlines moving out of Terminals 1 and 3.
As a consequence of this, Terminal 1 is due to close in 2015 and BA will be consolidating its operations in Terminals 3 and 5.
A series of terminal moves will be taking place next year.
As part of this, from Tuesday 30 June 2015, BA’s short-haul flights to Bilbao (launching 29 March 2015), Hanover, Luxembourg, Lyon, Marseille will move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3.
These routes will join existing BA short-haul routes from Terminal 3 which are Barcelona, Budapest, Gibraltar, Helsinki, Lisbon, Vienna and Warsaw.
Flights from London Heathrow to Rotterdam will not be moving as this route is being suspended from 28 March 2015.
BA Airbus A319 aircraft at London Heathrow (Image Credit: British Airways)
British Airways has today announced it is to launch a twice daily service from London Heathrow to Bilbao in the Basque region of Northern Spain.
Bilbao is currently served from London Heathrow by BA’s IAG sibling Vueling. It will move its four weekly flights to London Gatwick.
Flights launch on Sunday 29 March 2015.
BA’s flights will initially operate from Heathrow Terminal 1 and will move to Terminal 3 on Tuesday 30 June 2015.
London Heathrow – Bilbao
Flight BA466 Depart London Heathrow 09:20 – Arrive Bilbao 12:20
Flight BA468 Depart London Heathrow 16:05 – Arrive Bilbao 19:05
Flight BA467 Depart Bilbao 13:05 – Arrive London Heathrow 14:00
Flight BA469 Depart Bilbao 19:40 – Arrive London Heathrow 20:35
Whilst a popular leisure destination in its own right (Bilbao is of course home to a Guggenheim museum) we understand the service has been operated to attract corporate clients in the area to BA’s London network and cargo traffic from the port of Bilbao.
