LONDON- Flag carrier of the UK, British Airways (BA), is reintroducing Bangkok (BKK), Thailand, and Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Malaysia, to its route network; however, the connection to the Thai capital is notably reduced compared to the pre-Covid period.
Commencing with the winter schedules in late October 2024, British Airways will operate Boeing 777s three times a week from London Gatwick (LGW) to Bangkok. This marks a departure from the previous daily flights from Heathrow to the Thai capital. Notably, the reintroduced service will not include First class, although competitors flying from Heathrow to Bangkok continue to offer this class.
British Airways Restart Flights to Southeast Asia
Thai Airways (TG) presently offers two daily flights from Heathrow to Bangkok, while Eva Air (BR) operates a nonstop service on the same route once a day.
British Airways is set to resume daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from London Heathrow (LHR), utilizing a four-class Boeing 787. This move is seen as a manifestation of the airline’s “commitment to expanding its network to Asia post-pandemic.”
According to aviation schedule analyst Sean Moulton, the shift in strategy indicates a departure from BA’s core market, which traditionally connects Europe and India with the US and Canada.
He notes that Kuala Lumpur has limited direct links to Europe, allowing BA to tap into unserved connections. The decision to move Bangkok to Gatwick is seen as a response to lower yields but sustained popularity on the route.
Historically, Bangkok was a significant destination for British Airways from London Heathrow, and the airline even initiated a direct link from Manchester to the Thai capital. However, it was discontinued due to profitability challenges. Even before the pandemic, BA faced financial difficulties on the Heathrow-Bangkok route, reported Independent.
Visiting the UK via the Middle East
Currently, most UK visitors to Thailand opt for Gulf-based airlines such as Emirates (EK), Etihad (EY), and Qatar Airways (QR), which offer extensive capacity from the UK via their hubs.
Qatar Airways, for instance, operates six daily flights from Doha to Bangkok, while Emirates runs five daily Airbus A380 flights from Dubai to the Thai capital.
British Airways’ Heathrow operation is strategically geared towards premium cabins, and due to insufficient demand for these more lucrative seats, it is more challenging to fill them profitably. In contrast, operating from Gatwick provides cost advantages, enabling BA to offer more competitive fares.
BA New Cabins and Seats
The announcement of reinstated links with Southeast Asia coincided with the launch of a £7 billion modernization plan, as revealed by the airline’s chairman and chief executive, Sean Doyle.
The plan encompasses introducing new aircraft, upgraded cabins, enhanced customer care, focused on operational performance, and initiatives to reduce environmental impact by lowering emissions and fostering a culture of sustainability.
Doyle emphasized the airline’s commitment to a transformative business approach, addressing customer pain points. As part of the changes, starting from April 3, BA’s Executive Club members will be able to send messages on a single device using the airline’s wifi, free of charge.
The airline aims to make this service available on every wifi-enabled aircraft within two weeks of the rollout date.
The latest Airbus A320 series short-haul planes from British Airways will feature new aircraft cabins and seats, boasting enhancements such as “extra-large bins for overhead luggage.”
British Airways currently offers the most generous free cabin baggage allowance in Europe, allowing passengers to bring two bags weighing up to 23kg.
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