BA to launch Europe’s only non-stop flight to Durban
British Airways will become the only carrier to operate a non-stop flight between Europe and Durban when it launches a service from Heathrow to the South African city in October.
The three-times-a-week direct flight will start on October 29.
The new route adds to the airline’s existing twice-daily flights between Johannesburg and London and daily flights between Cape Town and London.
BA said the Durban route expansion is part of a £4.5bn, five-year customer investment plan.
"The service will be the only non-stop link between Europe and Durban and will be operated by the airline’s newest aircraft, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner," BA said.
"The aircraft will arrive at King Shaka International in the morning and land back at Heathrow in the evening."
The service will shave three hours off the current connection via Johannesburg and opens up the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, a popular tourist route.
It will also appeal to corporate travellers, says BA chairman and CEO Alex Cruz.
He said: "Durban is a gateway to many nature reserves, parks and historic sites, and has a thriving food, drink and art scene.
"Durban is home to the busiest port in South Africa and is a large manufacturing hub. The new route will secure another important link between the UK and the region that will be a welcome addition for business travellers."
Flights start at £599.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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