British Airways, the UK’s national carrier, is set to become the first and only airline to offer direct flights from London to Austin in Texas from 2014.
In early March 2014, the airline will fly its brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner to the Texan capital, starting with five flights a week and offering daily flights from May 5.
Lynne Embleton, British Airways’ director of strategy, said: ‘The addition of the Airbus A380s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners to our fleet enables us to start new routes and increase services to a number of our destinations.’
‘We’re excited to be the only airline offering direct flights from London to Austin. ‘We believe it will prove very popular with both business and leisure customers and will be our third route to Texas, after Houston and Dallas,’ she said, adding: ‘In the pioneering spirit of the Lone Star state, we are flying there in one of the world’s most advanced aircraft, the 787, to encourage more business with the scores of hi-tech businesses based in Austin’s ‘Silicon Hills’.’
Austin now features in the British Airways sale, with prices starting from GBP3,609 in Club World (business class), GBP891 return in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and GBP511 return in World Traveller (economy).
Additionally, British Airways is planning to expand its summer 2014 schedule, which starts from March 30, 2014, with several long-haul flights.
The airline will increase its flights to Seoul, South Korea, from six services a week to daily. It is also increasing flights to Accra in Ghana. Starting winter 2013/14, an additional three flights per week are being introduced, bringing the total number of weekly services up to 10.
From summer 2014, BA is also set to increase connections between London and Tel Aviv with the introduction of a daily four-cabin Boeing 777-200, and for the first time Premium customers will also, be able to fly in the airline’s First cabin between London and Jeddah, when a four-cabin Boeing 777 replaces the existing three-cabin Boeing 767 service.
Travellers to Entebbe will be offered improved flight times, with services increased from 3 to 4 flights a week. Seattle flights will be increased from 10 to 11 flights a week from summer 2014.
British Airways will announce its summer 2014 short-haul schedule in the next few weeks.
The airline has ordered 24 787s, 12 A380s and 6 additional 777-300ERs. Over the next 12 months, it will take delivery of a new aircraft at the rate of one per fortnight.
