BA announces new Asia flight
British Airways will resume flights to Korea, starting in December, using Heathrow slots acquired via parent IAG’s purchase of Bmi.
The airline has started selling flights to the Korean capital Seoul today.
It last flew to Seoul in 1998, but pulled out of the country , blaming "economic reasons". It returned last year, but only briefly to overnight crew following the Japan tsunami and ensuing nuclear power plant leak, when it wasn’t considered safe for them the stay in Tokyo.
BA will use a Boeing 777 with First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller to operate six flights a week from December 2.
Commercial director Drew Crawley said: "We have seen significant growth in customers wanting to travel to Seoul for both
business and pleasure. It is a vibrant city with a strong economic base,rated eighth in the Global Cities Index this year.
"Equally, there are vast numbers of South Korean companies wishing to come to the UK to do business as Asia’s economies continue to grow. We want to ensure that we do our bit in bringing as much business and tourism to the UK as we can."
There has certainly been persistent calls from the business community for BA to return to Seoul as the limited number of flights from Europe has led to high fares and a shortage of seats.
BA’s outbound flight to Seoul will arrive at the beginning of the working day there and have been timed to allow connections to BA’s domestic and European short haul network to and from Heathrow.
Prices from Heathrow will start from £798 return in economy, £1,196 for World Traveller Plus, £2,599 in Club World and £5,775 for First class.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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