British Airways is set to increase its long-haul capacity by nine per cent this coming winter season. The move introduces two fresh destinations while adding extra flights to several popular leisure and business routes from London Heathrow and Gatwick.
New direct links for UK travellers
From 23 October 2026, British Airways will fly three times a week from London Gatwick to Colombo in Sri Lanka using Boeing 777 aircraft. This provides a direct winter-sun option to the Indian Ocean island during peak season.
A second new service starts on 9 January 2027 with daily flights from London Heathrow to Melbourne, Australia, via Kuala Lumpur on Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The timing coincides with major sporting events including the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix.
Sunset Weekly analysis These new routes open convenient direct or one-stop access to southern-hemisphere summer destinations for British holidaymakers. Many travellers previously needed multiple connections or longer routings. The Colombo flights arrive in time for early winter escapes, while the Melbourne service strengthens options for those planning trips around key Australian events.
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Extra flights on popular routes
Image Credit: British Airways
British Airways is also boosting frequencies on established leisure routes that attract UK passengers seeking winter sun:
- Cape Town gains a third daily flight from London Heathrow from December using Boeing 787 aircraft.
- Barbados receives a new daily service from London Gatwick starting 25 October with Boeing 777 aircraft, plus onward connections to Grenada, Guyana and Tobago.
- St Lucia operates daily from London Gatwick from 25 October using Boeing 777 aircraft.
- San José in Costa Rica increases to five flights per week from London Heathrow.
- Kingston, Jamaica, rises to four flights per week from London Gatwick.
- Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic increases to four flights per week from London Gatwick.
Further uplifts include daily flights to Abu Dhabi from Heathrow, three daily services to Delhi, and more flights to several US cities such as Baltimore, Houston and New Orleans. Tokyo Haneda moves to double daily from late March.
Sunset Weekly analysis The heavier focus on Caribbean and African routes matches strong UK demand for reliable winter-sun getaways. Extra capacity on routes like Barbados and St Lucia should help ease pressure on availability and potentially keep fares more stable during the busiest months from November to March. The additional US flights also improve options for shorter city breaks during the quieter winter period.
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What this means for British travellers
Image Credit: British Airways
Travellers now have greater choice of departure airports, with more options from both Heathrow and Gatwick. Most new and increased services use modern wide-body aircraft, which typically support better comfort and competitive pricing on long-haul journeys.
Insider tip from the Sunset Weekly team New routes and added frequencies often open for booking several months in advance. Checking availability early for the October and December starts frequently allows better seat selection and access to introductory fares before demand peaks.
Passengers should keep an eye on the British Airways website or app for exact booking dates and consider flexible ticket types where possible, as all schedules can still be adjusted for operational reasons.
British Airways Club
The British Airways Club is the airline’s loyalty programme. Members collect Avios through flights and partner transactions, which can then be used for reward flights, cabin upgrades, and other travel benefits. In addition, tier points are earned separately and determine status within the programme’s four levels: Blue, Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
FAQs
When does British Airways start flying to Colombo? Service from London Gatwick to Colombo begins on 23 October 2026 with three flights per week.
When will the new British Airways route to Melbourne launch? Daily flights from London Heathrow to Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur start on 9 January 2027.
Which Caribbean islands will see more British Airways flights this winter? Barbados and St Lucia both gain daily services from Gatwick from 25 October, while Kingston in Jamaica and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic receive extra flights.
How many daily flights will British Airways operate to Cape Town? A third daily flight from London Heathrow begins in December using Boeing 787 aircraft.
Will the extra flights help with winter sun holiday availability? Increased capacity on popular leisure routes should reduce pressure on seats and may help moderate fare increases during peak winter months.
When can I book these new British Airways winter routes? Booking windows usually open several months ahead. Regular checks on the British Airways website will show the latest availability.
Editorial & Accuracy Standards
- Expert Review:
Ammara Azmat,
Senior Travel Mobility Analyst (12+ years experience) - Status: Verified for accuracy against official 2026 service data and real-time traveller reports.
- Our Process: This content follows our Fact-Checking Policy.
