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British Airways has recently added Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur back onto their flight route, but the connection to Thailand’s capital is significantly reduced compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Beginning in late October 2024, the winter schedule for BA Boeing 777s will include three weekly departures from London Gatwick to Bangkok. This is a change from their previous daily flights from Heathrow. Unfortunately, first class has been removed from BA’s flights, but it is still an option for competitors flying from Heathrow to Bangkok.
Thai Airways provides two daily flights from Heathrow to Bangkok, while Eva Air offers a nonstop option on the same route once per day.
British Airways will be restarting its daily flights from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, utilizing a four-class Boeing 787 aircraft. The airline has stated that this decision to return to Southeast Asia reflects its dedication to growing its network within Asia after the pandemic.
According to the aviation schedule analyst, Sean Moulton, the decision seems to be a shift in strategy, deviating from the main focus of BA, which is connecting Europe and India to the US and Canada.
The speaker mentioned that there are limited direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Europe, giving British Airways an opportunity to capitalize on currently unavailable connections. The decision to move Bangkok flights to Gatwick reflects lower profits but a high demand for the route.
For many years, Bangkok was a significant location for British Airways flights departing from London Heathrow. The airline had also introduced a direct route from Manchester to Bangkok, but it was eventually cancelled due to lack of profitability.
Prior to the pandemic, British Airways faced challenges in generating profits from the Heathrow-Bangkok route. Currently, a large percentage of British tourists heading to Thailand prefer to fly with Gulf-based airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. These airlines provide extensive flight options through their respective hub cities. For instance, Qatar Airways has six daily flights from Doha to Bangkok, and Emirates operates five A380 “SuperJumbo” planes on a daily basis from Dubai to Bangkok.
British Airways prioritizes their operations at Heathrow for premium seating, but there is not enough demand to make a profit from the most desirable seats. Operating from Gatwick is more cost-effective for BA, which allows them to offer more competitive prices.
At the unveiling of a £7 billion modernization plan, Sean Doyle, the chairman and chief executive of the airline, revealed the news of restored links with Southeast Asia.
He stated that they will be receiving new airplanes, implementing new cabins, improving customer service, prioritizing operational efficiency, and tackling environmental issues by reducing emissions and promoting sustainability.
According to Mr. Doyle, the airline’s main goal is to improve our business and address any issues that are causing inconvenience for our customers.
Starting on 3 April, BA’s Executive Club members will have the option to use BA’s wifi to send messages on one device at no cost. The airline plans to make this feature accessible on all wifi-enabled planes within two weeks of its launch date.
The newest Airbus A320 series short-haul planes will feature updated cabins and seats, with the addition of spacious overhead bins to accommodate more luggage. British Airways currently has the most generous free baggage policy in Europe, allowing two bags up to 23kg each in the cabin.
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Source: independent.co.uk
