SAN DIEGO, CA – British Airways announced that it will increase its nonstop service with a second daily flight between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) beginning April 20, 2024.
Of the top 30 passenger markets between the United States and Europe, San Diego has had the strongest recovery from the pandemic, the California city’s airport reported.
According to airport statistics, passenger numbers between San Diego and Europe are now 12 percent higher than in 2019. Passengers between San Diego and London have increased dramatically, now more than 28 percent above 2019 levels.
British Airways has operated SAN-LHR daily since June 2011 with one nonstop flight per day. The current flights (BA273 and BA272) will be rescheduled, arriving in San Diego from London at 6:10 p. m. and departing San Diego for London at 8:00 p. m.
The new second flight (BA265 and BA264) will arrive in San Diego at 15:25 and depart for London at 17:15. BA 264/BA265 will operate on 272-seat Boeing 777-200 aircraft and BA272/BA273 will operate on 214-seat Boeing 787-8 aircraft. With the additional flight, seat inventory to London for summer 2024 will increase 47% over summer 2023 levels.
“The expansion of British Airways flights between London Heathrow Airport and San Diego International Airport opens up a world of possibilities,” said Kimberly Becker, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
According to Becker, San Diego leisure and business travelers will have more opportunities to explore London, while giving tourists from the rest of the world greater access to San Diego’s beaches and year-round sunny weather.
London Heathrow, the world’s second busiest airport, serves as British Airways’ main hub and offers service to destinations in Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Far East and Australia.
“We are delighted to launch a second daily flight from San Diego, further supporting the growth of business and leisure travel in the city and demonstrating our commitment to the region,” said Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Director of Networks and Alliances.
London, along with Munich and Paris, are the most popular European destinations from San Diego. San Diego International Airport and its airline partners offer nonstop service to 10 international destinations, including London, Munich, Tokyo, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.
