We’re heading to the point of the year where airlines are getting ready for 2023, with British Airways announcing a new North American route – London Heathrow to Cincinnati.
British Airways Boeing 787-8 – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
Cincinnati will become the 27th US destination served directly from London by British Airways, which offers 300 transatlantic flights per week
The route will start on the 5th of June 2023, operating the following timetable provided by the airline:
| London Heathrow (LHR) to Cincinnati (CVG): Summer 2023 | ||||||
| Days of week | Flight number | Departing LHR | Arriving CVG | Flight number | Departing CVG | Arriving LHR |
| Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun | BA121 | 16:05 | 19:45 | BA120 | 21:30 | 10:15+1* |
| London Heathrow (LHR) to Cincinnati (CVG): Cincinnati: Winter 2023 | ||||||
| Days of week | Flight number | Departing LHR | Arriving CVG | Flight number | Departing CVG | Arriving LHR |
| Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun | BA121 | 16:00 | 18:40 | BA120 | 20:25 | 10:10+1 |
*Flight arrival into LHR is 10:20+1 on Tuesdays
The route will run five times a week in its first summer season, dropping to four times a week for the winter season.
British Airways is assigning a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to operate this route. This will be in a three-class configuration, featuring Club World (business class), World Travellers Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy class).
Tickets are now on sale for the route with lead-in return fares from £499. It will be available to other carriers via the Atlantic Joint Business agreement that exists between American Airlines, IAG and Finnair.
When the route commences, it will be the only direct flight between the UK and all of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
In Quotes
Neil Chernoff, Director of Networks and Alliances at British Airways, said:
“This is the first time we’ve flown this route, and we can’t wait to connect two cities which both have so much to offer. Not only will this open up these destinations to customers on each side of the Atlantic, but it will also improve connectivity between the Cincinnati region, Europe and beyond, with opportunities to connect to our wider network via London.”
Candace McGraw, chief executive officer of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) said:
“British Airways’ nonstop service from CVG to London-Heathrow is an all-around win for the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana region. The economic impact of this transatlantic flight is exponential for business travel, economic development, and tourism between the UK and our area of the United States. We look forward to a strong partnership with our new friends across the pond for many years to come.”
A busy summer 2023 for British Airways
It seems the North Atlantic is where British Airways is hoping to make cash next year, with the airline adding further capacity – with Portland (OR) gaining an increase in service, scaling it to a full daily service for Summer 2023, whilst Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which will increase to six flights per week
There’s also the big JFK moving coming soon, where the airline will colocate with American Airlines in Terminal 8, as well as the airline is adding an eighth daily flight in Summer 2023.
Well, that’s novel
It seems British Airways has been learning lessons from other IAG airlines in “the wonders of route launch aid” in commercializing a new route to the network (see Aer Lingus), with a Mid-west route, as opposed to something exciting and exotic.
However, exciting and exotic can be difficult to justify – especially at a time when consumers are adjusting their spending.
With the ability to market this route through its joint business venture partners, as well as some probable help to launch the route and the option of a direct flight to Europe, it might prove tempting…
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