LONDON- British Airways (BA) will expand its long-haul network in May 2027 with new services from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) in Tanzania.
The airline will operate three weekly triangle flights linking London Gatwick, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar from 29 May through 31 October 2027, while also increasing capacity across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
British Airways Expands Tanzania Network
British Airways will introduce two new destinations in Tanzania as part of its Summer 2027 schedule. The new London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar service will give travelers direct access to Tanzania’s northern safari region, Mount Kilimanjaro and the beaches of Zanzibar.
The service will operate three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from London Gatwick. The aircraft will first fly to Kilimanjaro before continuing to Zanzibar on the same flight number.
The return service will depart Zanzibar on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, completing the triangle routing back to London Gatwick.
The new route will run from 29 May to 31 October 2027, covering the summer travel season and coinciding with UK school holidays and a key period for safari travel.
British Airways said fares will start from £849 return, including taxes and fees and a hand baggage allowance.
London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar
The new route will be operated by a Boeing 777, with three cabin options:
- Club World, business class
- World Traveller Plus, premium economy
- World Traveller, economy
| Sector | Days | Flight | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick (LGW) to Kilimanjaro (JRO) | Mon/Thu/Sat | BA2163 | 09:05 | 20:20 |
| Kilimanjaro (JRO) to Zanzibar (ZNZ) | Mon/Thu/Sat | BA2163 | 21:20 | 22:25 |
| Zanzibar (ZNZ) to London Gatwick (LGW) | Tue/Fri/Sun | BA2163 | 00:25 | 07:55 |
All times are local.
The triangle routing allows British Airways to serve both Tanzanian destinations within the same flight operation. It also provides passengers with the option of beginning a Tanzania trip in the safari region and continuing to Zanzibar.
Kilimanjaro Opens Access to Tanzania’s Safari Circuit
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) serves as an important gateway to northern Tanzania and the country’s renowned safari circuit.
The region provides access to several major wildlife destinations, including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.
The Serengeti is internationally known for the annual Great Migration, while the Ngorongoro Crater is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and supports a wide range of wildlife.
Tarangire is particularly associated with its large elephant population, while Lake Manyara offers another important wildlife destination within northern Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro also provides access to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. The mountain rises through five distinct climate zones, ranging from rainforest to alpine desert before reaching its snow-covered summit.
The new British Airways service therefore connects London directly with a region that combines safari tourism, mountain travel and wildlife experiences.
Zanzibar Adds Beaches and Cultural Attractions
Zanzibar offers a different tourism profile, with beaches, marine activities and historic attractions forming the core of its appeal.
The island is known for its white-sand beaches and warm Indian Ocean waters. Visitors can also explore Stone Town, a UNESCO-listed historic area with a distinctive mix of African, Arab, Indian and European influences.
Zanzibar is also associated with spice plantations and marine tourism. Snorkeling and diving provide access to coral reefs and tropical marine life around the island.
British Airways’ new service will make it possible for travelers to combine a northern Tanzania safari with a beach stay in Zanzibar without requiring a separate international flight between the two destinations.
British Airways Increases Long-Haul Capacity
The Tanzania expansion forms part of a wider Summer 2027 network increase by British Airways.
The airline plans to increase capacity to Latin America by 25%, measured using Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) when comparing the Summer 2026 and Summer 2027 schedules.
The changes include additional capacity and frequency adjustments across South America, Africa, Central America, the Caribbean and the United States.
Buenos Aires and Santiago
British Airways will move its London Heathrow (LHR) to Buenos Aires (EZE) operation to a daily non-stop service from 28 March 2027.
The service will continue onward to Santiago (SCL), giving passengers a daily connection between London and the Chilean capital.
The airline said the change will provide more dedicated capacity to Buenos Aires while maintaining onward service to Santiago.
Rio de Janeiro
The London Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) service will also operate daily from 28 March 2027.
British Airways will remove the previous onward tag to Buenos Aires, allowing the airline to dedicate more capacity to the Rio de Janeiro route.
San José, Costa Rica
British Airways will make its London Heathrow to San José (SJO) service year-round.
The route will operate three times per week from 28 March 2027. Previously, the service operated only during the winter season.
Cape Town
British Airways will increase its Summer 2027 service between London Heathrow and Cape Town (CPT) from seven flights per week to 10 flights per week.
The increase will provide additional capacity between the UK and South Africa during the summer schedule.
Las Vegas
The London Heathrow to Las Vegas (LAS) service will increase from 13 flights per week to 14 flights per week from 28 March 2027.
This change effectively takes the route to twice-daily service during the summer schedule.
Caribbean Services Also Change
British Airways will continue its London Gatwick service to Barbados (BGI) during Summer 2027.
The route, which launches in October 2026, will operate daily and include onward tags to Grenada (GND), Guyana (GEO) and Tobago (TAB).
The Barbados service will operate year-round, having previously been a winter-only route.
The airline will also continue its London Gatwick to St Lucia (UVF) service during Summer 2027. The route will operate four times per week as a dedicated service, with the previous onward tags now operating via Barbados.
Other New Long-Haul Routes
British Airways has also announced two other long-haul destinations that will launch before the Summer 2027 schedule.
The airline will begin flights from London Gatwick to Colombo, Sri Lanka (CMB) on 23 October 2026.
A new London Heathrow to Melbourne, Australia (MEL) service via Kuala Lumpur (KUL) will begin on 9 January 2027.
These additions will expand British Airways’ long-haul network beyond the new Tanzania services and support its broader strategy of adding or strengthening international routes.
British Airways Summer 2027 Route Changes
| Route | Start | Flight | Frequency | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHR-EZE-SCL | 28 Mar 2027 | BA245/BA4 | Daily | Buenos Aires becomes non-stop with onward Santiago service |
| LHR-GIG | 28 Mar 2027 | BA249/BA8 | Daily | Dedicated Rio de Janeiro service |
| LHR-SJO | 28 Mar 2027 | BA233/BA2 | 3 weekly | Becomes year-round |
| LHR-CPT | 28 Mar 2027 | BA43/BA2 | 10 weekly | Increased from 7 weekly |
| LHR-LAS | 28 Mar 2027 | BA271/BA270 | 14 weekly | Increased from 13 weekly |
| LGW-BGI with GND/GEO/TAB tags | 28 Mar 2027 | BA2153/BA2152 | Daily | Becomes year-round |
| LGW-UVF | 28 Mar 2027 | BA2159/BA2158 | 4 weekly | Dedicated St Lucia service |
British Airways Highlights Tanzania Expansion
Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said the airline was excited to launch flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar and described the destinations as offering access to Tanzania’s safari, mountain and beach attractions.
Chernoff also said the airline was strengthening its wider long-haul network through additional capacity, increased frequencies and extended seasonal services across Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean.
The Tanzania routes represent a new direct connection between London Gatwick and two major tourism gateways in Tanzania. With the Boeing 777 triangle operation, British Airways will connect Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar within the same international service.
The airline’s Summer 2027 schedule will therefore combine new destinations with frequency increases and year-round extensions across several established long-haul markets.
British Airways Holidays Offer
British Airways Holidays is also offering a seven-night package at the 5-star LUX Marijani* in Zanzibar.
The package starts at £1,499 per person and includes economy return flights from London Gatwick, one checked bag weighing up to 23kg per person and breakfast accommodation.
The offer applies to selected travel dates between 1 June and 30 June 2027 and includes a $35 per-person government tax payable locally. The stated booking deadline is 25 September 2026.
What the Tanzania Launch Means for Travelers
The new British Airways operation will provide a single international itinerary covering London, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.
Travelers interested in Tanzania will be able to use Kilimanjaro as an entry point for northern safari destinations before continuing to Zanzibar for coastal and cultural experiences.
The schedule also places the route during the UK’s summer travel period and Tanzania’s peak safari season, making the new service particularly relevant to leisure travelers planning multi-destination holidays.
British Airways’ wider Summer 2027 schedule also adds capacity on several major long-haul routes, including services to Cape Town, Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
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