British Airways Expands African Network

• British Airways Expands African Network

British Airways is expanding its African network by starting three weekly flights directly from London Heathrow to Durban, South Africa.

The airline stated that the service would be the only non-stop link between Europe and Durban and to be operated by its newest aircraft, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

“Durban is the second new African route British Airways will start this year. In March, it began flying twice weekly to Seychelles from Heathrow. It also expanded its three Gatwick/Mauritius services to five a week,” the airline said in a statement.

According to the airline, it has added more seats to Lagos and is introducing new onboard products and services on African routes including its daily services to Accra, Ghana.

The airline said, “This is part of a £4.5bn five-year customer investment plan, with a focus on excellence in the premium cabins and more choice and quality for all its customers. On a number of African routes, we have already introduced new bedding and amenity kits in the Club World Cabin by luxury lifestyle brand, the White Company. The investment will also see a new Club World seat in future.

“At Heathrow, we have opened a first wing check-in area with direct security and lounge access. Lounges around the world are being revamped, including Johannesburg and Nairobi. In World Traveller, new expanded menus have been introduced, providing more quantity and quality in the long-haul economy cabin, as well as snack options throughout the flight.”

The airline stated that its New World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins were also being rolled out in the Boeing 777 fleet operating out of Gatwick, adding that the aircraft would operate three additional flights to Cape Town during the South African summer.

“The investment plan will also see British Airways installing the best-quality WiFi in every seat, upgrading the interior of 128 long-haul aircraft and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft,” the airline said.