NEW ORLEANS, March 27, 2017 – The first official British Airways flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans touched down this evening, marking the start of the new, nonstop service between the cities. At a news conference in front of local dignitaries, business leaders, and departing travelers, British Airways signaled its confidence in the service by announcing an increase from four to five days a week for the winter flight schedule. Video of the aircraft landing at Louis Armstrong International and a view of the cabins is available here.
Nicolas Krohne, Vice President of Sales for British Airways said, “We are honored to be able to connect New Orleans with London Heathrow and the 130 plus destinations that British Airways flies to across Europe and beyond. With a favorable exchange rate and special fares available, Britain has never been more affordable.”
Flights can be booked on ba.com. Right now, British Airways is offering roundtrip fares as low as $899, including all taxes, fees, and charges. Tickets need to be booked by April 16, 2017. Seats at the promotional price are available for select travel dates between June 7 and September 18, 2017, as well as between October 2 and December 13, 2017.
Starting October 30, 2017, the service will increase from four to five times a week, operating on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The flight was met by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser who said, “This first landing of a British Airways direct flight from London to New Orleans is a clear signal to travelers worldwide that New Orleans and Louisiana continue to be great travel destinations. While the number of British travelers to Louisiana has seen a steady increase, it is expected to increase even more with the addition of this direct, year-round service. Our goal is to utilize this and other partnerships to see the number of international visitors to our state continue to rise as we market Louisiana as an exciting destination for international visitors to experience and explore.”
“With the start of the new British Airways direct flight, we look forward to further introducing New Orleans as a world-class destination to the UK and other European markets. A flight linking London to New Orleans will allow even more international visitors to experience our vibrant neighborhoods, evolving food and art scene, admired traditions and so much more. New Orleans and Louisiana are ready to continue sharing our authentic spirit and culture with travelers from around the world,” said Stephen Perry, President & CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"I’m thrilled to see non-stop service to London coming to New Orleans for the first time,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “This new flight is a testament that our city is fully connected with the global community to help leverage both business and leisure opportunities.”
"This is a knock-it-out-of-the-park win for our state and region," said Gregory Rusovich, Chairman of the Louisiana Board of International Commerce. “It’s a perfect demonstration of the success and effectiveness of our global concentration and focus. London and beyond, here we come!"
"The first direct flight between New Orleans and Europe since 1982 is a game changer for Greater New Orleans," said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of GNO, Inc. “It is impossible to overstate the benefit the British Airways nonstop to London will bring to our business, convention and tourism sectors – not to mention the new horizon it opens for our citizens. GNO, Inc. is proud to have been an integral part of the public/private team that ‘landed’ this flight!”
The number of British travelers to Louisiana has seen a steady increase which is anticipated to grow further with the addition of this nonstop service to New Orleans. The United Kingdom is the second largest source of international visitors to Louisiana. A direct service to Louis Armstrong International Airport opens up possibilities, such as:
- Increased touring within Louisiana through both fly-drive trips and escorted touring holidays;
- Increased cruising out of the Port of New Orleans for the British cruise market;
- Increased educational tourism by schools and universities;
- Increased year-round visitation; and,
- Increased incentives for businesses.
Onboard the Dreamliner
The aircraft is one of the newest in British Airways’ fleet. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner accommodates 214 customers across three cabins, with 154 seats in World Traveller (economy), 25 seats in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and 35 seats in Club World (business). All customers can enjoy free meals, beverages, on-demand entertainment, and a free checked bag.
The airline has teamed up with award-winning London drinking den NOLA to create a New Orleans inspired cocktail and Creole food menu which will be served to all customers on flights between the two cities for the first month of service. Executive chef Brett Milligan has collaborated with British Airways’ in-house chefs to create courses which blend authentic Deep South flavors alongside traditional cooking techniques.
For a picture of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, please click here.
Rewarding Customers
Recognizing and understanding the needs of small and medium size businesses, American Airlines’ Business Extra® program allows members traveling on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines to collect and spend across all three airlines, with coordinated benefits that help businesses to stretch their travel budgets.
A joint business agreement between American, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair allows members of the AAdvantage, Executive Club and Plus programs to earn and redeem points or miles on codeshare flights across the airlines. Customers also get access to great prices across all four airlines with the ability to mix and match flights to get the best deals and enjoy smoother connections for onward flights.
