LONDON- British Airways (BA) is preparing to discontinue two routes from its London Heathrow hub later this year. The airline will end service to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and Grenoble (GNB), with final flights operating on October 26, 2025.
Both routes have been removed from future schedules and are no longer available for booking on the airline’s website.
British Airways to end Heathrow–Sabiha Gökçen
The Heathrow–Sabiha Gökçen route was launched in June 2023, offering a lower-cost alternative to British Airways’ traditional Istanbul Airport (IST) flights. Sabiha Gökçen, located on Istanbul’s Asian side, is a hub for low-cost operators like Pegasus Airlines and serves over 150 destinations globally.
Despite its growing importance, BA’s presence at SAW remained limited. The airline offered up to five weekly flights using A320-family aircraft. The airline seems to have struggled to compete against low-cost rivals dominating the airport. With limited codeshare opportunities and lower premium demand at Sabiha, BA’s strategy didn’t gain long-term traction.
With this withdrawal, British Airways will return to exclusively serving Istanbul Airport (IST), where it benefits from more business traffic, stronger feeder connections, and alliance support through Oneworld partners.
Grenoble Dropped from Winter Schedule
Also removed from sale is Grenoble, a seasonal winter route catering to heavy leisure travelers’s demand. Grenoble has long been a niche addition to BA’s winter network, with flights operating during the peak season from December through March.
The route’s removal probably shows that the airline is trimming lesser-performing seasonal services as it adjusts capacity elsewhere. Popular gateways with huge demand during winters, such as Geneva, Innsbruck, and Zurich, remain unaffected.
Additionally, British Airways has adjusted its London Heathrow–Zagreb service as well. Zagreb will now be converted into a summer seasonal route from a year-round service. Flights will now only operate only during the IATA summer season, which is between late March and late October.
Customers with existing bookings beyond October 26, 2025, on either route will likely be rebooked onto alternative services. Istanbul-bound travelers will still have daily options via Istanbul Airport (IST).
Aircraft Availability Likely a Factor
There has been no official reason provided, but recent fleet challenges may have played a role as well. Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine issues continue to limit the availability of BA’s Boeing 787s, which are used for several long-haul routes. The airline also recently stopped the Heathrow–Abu Dhabi flight service for Summer 2025. The airline had cited aircraft constraints as a reason.
With limited short-haul aircraft available, British Airways is experiencing increasing demand for core routes. In such cases, trimming non-essential or lower-performing services helps preserve operational reliability.
The airline may be reallocating aircraft to better-performing routes for now, with the possibility of resuming other services once more of the grounded fleet returns to service.
Low-Cost Competition and Market Shifts
British Airways’ decision to cut Sabiha Gökçen services now leaves the airport without any full-service UK connection from Heathrow. In contrast, Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines maintain strong networks at both Istanbul airports.
Elsewhere, easyJet continues to expand into underserved markets like Tbilisi, Georgia, suggesting a shift in growth toward non-traditional destinations. While BA will consolidate, other airlines are likely to move in to fill the gaps.
British Airways’ route changes reflect a precise recalibration of its network. With aircraft still in tight supply and stronger performance on core routes, the carrier is dialing back on fringe services like Sabiha Gökçen and Grenoble—at least for now.
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