Chicago Archives – London Air Travel

Norwegian launches London Gatwick – Austin & Chicago O’Hare

Low cost airline Norwegian is to fly from London Gatwick to Chicago O’Hare and Austin from late March 2018.

: Norwegian Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Norwegian is to launch yet more long-haul routes from London Gatwick with the addition of Chicago O’Hare and Austin to its network from late March 2018

Norwegian will fly to Austin three times weekly from Tuesday 27 March 2018 and Chicago O’Hare four times weekly from Sunday 25 March 2018.

The launch of Austin will create a second link between London and the city. Currently, British Airways is the only airline to fly direct between London and Austin.

Yet more expansion by Norwegian is a major headache for both BA and Virgin Atlantic. Norwegian can now claim to serve two US states not served by Virgin Atlantic: Illinois and Texas. Virgin Atlantic suspended Chicago this year.. BA has also coveted being the exclusive operator of routes such as Austin as it gives the airline pricing power in the market.

Today’s news also comes on top of new route launches to Buenos Aires and Singapore.

Flights are on sale now at Norwegian

London Gatwick – Austin

Flight DY7181 Depart London Gatwick 10:00 – Arrive Austin 14:05 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

Flight DY7182 Depart Austin 16:20 – Arrive London Gatwick 07:25 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

London Gatwick – Chicago O’Hare

Flight DY7151 Depart London Gatwick 10:00 – Arrive Chicago O’Hare 12:35 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

Flight DY7152 Depart Chicago O’Hare 15:15 Arrive London Gatwick – 05:00 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

Virgin Atlantic suspends London Heathrow – Chicago O’Hare

Virgin Atlantic will not reinstate its summer seasonal service from London Heathrow to Chicago.

London Air Travel » Chicago

Virgin Atlantic aircraft at London Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic has announced it is suspending its summer seasonal route from London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare airport from summer 2017.

The seasonal route had been due to return in 2017 from May to October. However, the route has now been suspended permanently.

It is something of understatement to say that the Chicago route has something of a chequered history at Virgin Atlantic.

The route has been launched and suspended on more than one occasion and most recently has operated on a summer seasonal basis only. It is highly unlikely that the route will now ever return.

Whilst no reason has been given for the cancellation, it is likely that United and British Airways & American Airlines offering significantly higher frequencies (some six joint daily flights in the case of AA & BA) has put Virgin Atlantic at a competitive disadvantage.

Affected passengers should contact either Virgin Atlantic or their travel agent to arrange re-routing via Delta and Virgin Atlantic services to other North American gateways such as New York JFK and Detroit.

United Airlines to introduce free beer & wine on long-haul flights

London Air Travel » Chicago

United Airlines at London Heathrow (Image Credit: Heathrow)

In a further sign of US airlines continuing to narrow the historical gap in service levels between their European rivals, United Airlines is to provide complimentary beer and wine in economy class on long-haul flights to and from London Heathrow from 1 June 2015.

This is part of a package of service improvements announced by United Airlines. The airline will continue to charge for spirits in economy. Passengers will also have the option to purchase additional snacks in flight.

This move does, if we’re not mistaken, put United Airlines broadly on a par with Delta and American Airlines. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic continue to offer a full bar service free of charge in economy.

Whilst in the grand scheme of things, this is a very modest change and, in truth, only a reversal of a previous cut, it’s perhaps less likely other airlines will start charging for alcoholic drinks in economy.

United Airlines flies from London Heathrow Terminal 2 to New York Newark, Chicago, Washington Dulles, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.