British Airways Expands Winter Long-Haul Network by 9% Amid Ongoing Middle East Suspensions
British Airways has announced a 9% expansion of its winter 2026 long-haul schedule, adding two new destinations - Melbourne and Colombo - alongside increased frequencies to Cape Town, Tokyo Haneda, Barbados, Kingston, and San Jose in Costa Rica. The growth reflects a significant investment in the airline's leisure network, with Melbourne services launching from 9 January 2027 via Kuala Lumpur on a daily basis, and Colombo flights operating three times weekly from Gatwick from 23 October.
The expansion comes as BA extends suspensions on several Middle East routes, with flights to Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, and Tel Aviv cancelled through to 31 May and Doha services suspended until 30 April. Abu Dhabi is expected to return in October. In the interim, the airline has added over 3,300 seats across seven additional return services to Bangkok and Singapore to meet redirected demand, while its tour operation has recorded a notable uptick in interest for Caribbean and Indian Ocean destinations. Searches for Tenerife are up 38% and Gran Canaria up 50% year-on-year, reflecting a broader shift in traveller behaviour driven by the ongoing regional uncertainty.
Source: Travel Weekly
