BA London Flight To Switch To Heathrow
Commencing March 28, 2021, Bermuda commercial air service from London will originate from Heathrow Airport, replacing service from Gatwick Airport, the Bermuda Ministry of Transport and British Airways announced jointly today.
A Government spokesperson said, For Bermuda, this marks a welcome return to the UK’s busiest airport.
[Seated from left to right] – Minister of Transport Neville Tyrrell; Bermuda Airport Authority CEO Lester Nelson; Premier David Burt; Bermuda Airport Authority Board of Directors Chairman Lawrence Scott. Standing [from left to right] – Bermuda Tourism Authority Interim CEO Glenn Jones; British Airways (Bermuda) Airport Manager Marianne Wilcox; Bermuda Skyport Corporation President Aaron Adderley
“Heathrow Airport opens a wide and diverse range of flight connections for those travelling to and from Bermuda. While current demand for flights to Bermuda emanates mainly from the UK, Heathrow flights have the potential to stimulate significantly greater demand from the rest of the world, particularly European cities.”
David Burt, Premier of Bermuda and Minister responsible for Tourism, said: “This is a signature achievement which will provide a foundation to extend Bermuda’s tourism reach into Europe. The entire team who worked on this deserves our thanks as we set the stage for a new opportunity for tourism growth. British Airways has been a longstanding and valued partner and through this relationship we have partnered in an innovative change that will be welcomed by travellers to and from Bermuda.”
“The flights will start late March 2021 at four times per week,” confirmed Bermuda’s Minister of Transport Neville Tyrrell. “We are delighted to continue our partnership with British Airways, an airline connecting Bermuda to London for more than 85 years. The island’s leading industry groups see clear benefits for international business and tourism as a result of this decision which should prove pivotal in the island’s pandemic recovery.”
“Bermuda-bound and departing business travellers will be grateful to do away with time-consuming and frustrating ground connections between Gatwick and Heathrow, long thought to be a barrier to increased business travel between the British Overseas Territory and London. Additionally, the seemingly simple change from one London airport to another is expected to stimulate demand for Bermuda leisure travel.
“We are enthusiastic about this London airport shift and have already begun talks with British Airways and local hotel partners to create special consumer offers to launch the Heathrow service next year,” said Bermuda Tourism Authority Interim CEO Glenn Jones. “While the city hasn’t changed, we treat this development like an entirely new route because we believe the whole European travel landscape changes now in a positive way.”
“This is the first time we have flown to Bermuda from London’s biggest airport for over three decades and we look forward to welcoming customers to experience our world class facilities at Terminal 5,” said Neil Chernoff, British Airways director of network and alliances. “Whether our customers are travelling on business, visiting friends and family or taking a European holiday, London Heathrow is the UK’s largest airport and a gateway for many of our destinations worldwide.”
“As the aviation industry continues on the road to recovery, the opportunity to make adjustments in London came about as a result of discussions between British Airways and Bermuda’s air service development team, made up of: Bermuda Airport Authority [BAA], Bermuda Tourism Authority, Bermuda Skyport Corporation and air service consultants Ailevon Pacific. With reduced air travel due to the global pandemic, slots became available at Heathrow that would otherwise not have been possible. When approached by Bermuda’s air service development team, British Airways was open to the swap and began discussions with BAA.
“The Bermuda Airport Authority is committed to creating value for Bermuda and is excited by the connectivity benefits that Heathrow Airport will offer the Island,” Airport Authority CEO Lester Nelson said. “This switch demonstrates the benefits of our collaborative, strategic approach to growing sustainable air service and we look forward to the new travel opportunities that Heathrow provides the Island’s residents and visitors.”
“Representatives from the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers, Association of Bermuda International Companies, Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, Bermuda Hotel Association and Bermuda Business Development Agency were among the key industry groups consulted on this move. Unanimously, they agreed the switch in airports would benefit their members’ international business activities.”
A spokesperson said, “British Airways has today announced that from 28 March 2021, it will operate daily flights from Bermuda to London Heathrow Terminal 5.
“The flights will depart from Bermuda at 20:10, landing at London Heathrow at 06:55 the next day. The route will be operated by a Boeing 777-200, which will soon feature the airline’s new Club Suite.
BA’s Director of Network and Alliances, Neil Chernoff, said: “We are delighted to launch flights from London Heathrow to Bermuda. This is the first time we have flown to Bermuda from London’s biggest airport for over three decades and we look forward to welcoming customers to experience our world class facilities at Terminal 5.
“Whether our customers are travelling on business, visiting friends and family or taking a European holiday, London Heathrow is the UK’s largest airport and a gateway for many of our destinations worldwide.”
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with British Airways, an airline connecting Bermuda to London for more than 85 years”, confirmed Bermuda’s Minister of Transport the Hon. Neville Tyrrell. “The island’s leading industry groups see clear benefits for international business and tourism as a result of this decision, which should prove pivotal in the island’s pandemic recovery.”
“Tickets are now on sale, with return fares from as low as 876 USD.
“The airline has introduced a range of measures to keep its customers safe and is asking customers to abide by the new measures to help manage the wellness of everyone travelling.
These include:
- checking-in online, downloading their boarding pass and where possible self-scanning their boarding passes at the departure gate
- observing social distancing and using hand sanitisers that are placed throughout airports
- wearing a facemask at all times and bringing enough to replace them every four hours for longer flights
- asking customers not to travel if they think they have any symptoms of Covid-19
- cabin crew wearing PPE and a new food service, which reduces the number of interactions required with customers
- Asking customers to ensure they have everything they need from their hand luggage before departure, and where possible, storing their carry-on bag under the seat in front of them
“The airline is cleaning all key surfaces including seats, screens, seat buckles and tray tables after every flight and each aircraft is completely cleaned from nose to tail every day. The air on all British Airways flights is fully recycled once every two to three minutes through HEPA filters, which remove microscopic bacteria and virus clusters with over 99.9% efficiency, equivalent to hospital operating theatre standards.”
Gatwick arrival on a freezing cold early frosty morning was terrible!
Sooo much warmer at Heathrow.
I’m opening a tin of beans tomorrow. I’ll invite Burt.
“A signature achievement” – are you having a laugh?
Moving from one miserable London airport to an even worse one.
How on earth is this worth a photo op? Just get on with opening our new airport.
enough! there is an election! this should NOT be happening. Sleazy, really sleazy!
Is there no end to this? is there nothing David Burt won’t take credit for? Is anyone else in the PLP?
Is this something to do with the fact that only the north terminal is operating at Gatwick and so maybe BA is having to move flights?
If it isn’t going to be cheaper Who cares!!!
this makes no sense or difference. People looking to come to bermuda would connect to gatwick. Just because it will be switched to heathrow doesnt mean more people will magically appear in bermuda.
I’m not sure how this was an “achievement” Mr. Burt. More like a financial decision by BA. I don’t think you can claim this as a PLP victory!
It was about dang time
its about time. I had to travel to Heathrow then get a taxi to Gatwick (with 2 young children and bags) Should have been changed when the airport opened..
Seat sale at almost $900.. thats not a sale..
People can travel to the islands with hotel,all-inclusive for 7 nights for around £700 (with a lot more to do and see)..
(why would you choose to come to Bermuda unless you live here or have family)..
Bermuda needs to tell BA to cut the prices like how they do for Canada, US and Caribbean when they have seat sales!! Or get some competition and maybe you will get tourists from that side of the world..
We are not the Bahamas! If you cheap a$$e$ want that experience then go there! We are safe and cater to a higher level traveler who appreciates the difference between a Bermuda and a Bahamas! Read a book!