New flights to Costa Rica to launch next spring
British Airways is launching a non-stop service from Gatwick to Costa Rica next May.
Its decision follows an announcement by Thomson earlier this year that it was planning to launch the first non-stop flights from the UK to Costa Rica, also starting next May and operating from Gatwick.
BA’s service, starting on May 4, will initial operate to San Jose twice a week in the summer, rising to three a week in the winter.
BA’s flight will be operated by a Boeing 777 while Thomson’s will be on the Dreamliner.
Mauricio Ventura, Costa Rica’s minister of tourism said: "British Airways’ new service from Costa Rica to the United Kingdom is wonderful news and demonstrates the success of our strategy to attract premium airlines to our country.
"In the last 12 months alone we have seen an increase of 12.9% of tourists from the United Kingdom visiting Costa Rica, staying an average of two weeks, helping to make a valuable contribution to the Costa Rican economy.
"Europe is a priority market for Costa Rica. So the start of this new route by British Airways will help attract tourists from across Europe, and specifically from the United Kingdom, making it much easier for them to visit all the wonderful places Costa Rica has to offer modern holiday-makers."
The flights will offer 48 Club World seats, 24 in World Traveller Plus and 203 in World Traveller.
During summer months the flights will operate on Wednesday and Saturday, departing from Gatwick at 11:55 and 11:00 respectively, arriving in San Jose at 15:45 and 14.50 respectively, with an average flying time of 10 hours and 50 minutes.
In winter, flights will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing at 10:15 on a Tuesday and Saturday, arriving in to Costa Rica at 15:35, and departing at 11:25 on Thursday, arriving in to Costa Rica at 16:45. Flight times during the winter months will be 11 hours and 20 minutes.
The new long-haul route to San Jose, follows the airline’s recently launched route to Kuala Lumpur from Heathrow and a new Gatwick route to Funchal in Madeira. Gatwick also launches new routes to Sharm El Sheikh and Vienna later this year.
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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