The airline will be reopening flights to one popular destination two decades after its last flight
As the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt travel plans and fuel demand for direct flights worldwide, British Airways has unveiled a ‘major winter expansion‘. The announcement features two routes that haven’t seen the airline touch down for a considerable number of years.
British Airways is set to resume flights from London Heathrow to Melbourne, Australia, for the first time in 20 years. The daily service will route via Kuala Lumpur, launching in January 2027.
The new service will ferry passengers in time for both the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix, with flights anticipated to run daily throughout the year.
Sri Lanka also features amongst British Airways’ revived destinations. Flights to the nation’s capital, Colombo, are scheduled to commence on October 23, 2026, nearly 11 years after the carrier last operated the route.
The service will depart from London Gatwick three times weekly, though it will run during the winter season only. Return fares went on sale in March, starting from £620.
Alongside these reinstated routes, British Airways will be boosting flight frequencies to several destinations throughout the 2026/2027 winter season, with the updated schedule representing a nine per cent increase in long-haul capacity overall.
These destinations include:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Haneda, Tokyo
- Bridgetown, Barbados
- Kingston, Jamaica
- San José, Costa Rica
Temporary capacity boosts are also anticipated to accommodate passenger requirements while the Middle East conflict persists. Extra return journeys to Bangkok and Singapore have been introduced from early March, with further flights being contemplated “as needed”.
Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, commented: “We’re delighted to announce sizeable growth to our flying schedule for winter 2026, including two notable new destinations that I’m confident will prove popular with our customers.
“We’re also increasing services across several high-demand routes around the world. Together, these changes represent a significant investment in our long-haul leisure network, adding even more options and choice for our customers.
“Elsewhere, we know there is short-term demand as a result of the situation in the Middle East. To support customers with alternative routes from popular destinations we have already launched additional flights, and we will continue to monitor customer demand and add flights to our schedule if we’re able to do so.”
