British Airways plots plans to return to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok

From the British Airways event last night, the airline announced the return of two long-haul routes, with Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok returning to the network.

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur returns to the British Airways network, with services due to commence on the 10th of November with a daily service.

The planned operation is as follows:

BA33 DEPART LHR 20:45 ARRIVE KUL 17:30+1
BA34 DEPART KUL 23:20 ARRIVE LHR 05:35+1

Resumes 10th November 2024 from Heathrow, 11th from KL.
Operates Daily
Booked Equipment: Four-Class Boeing 787-9

British Airways will operate the service with a Boeing 787-9, with a four-class configuration, made up of 8 First, 42 Club, 39 World Traveller Plus, and 127 World Traveller seats.

Return flights lead-in pricing from London Heathrow will start at the following:

• First £4,000
• Club World £3,200
• World Traveller Plus £1,338
• World Traveller £620

Bangkok

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi returns to the British Airways network – however, a lot is changing, with the series operating from London Gatwick, three times a week as a seasonal route.

The airline plans to operate the route as follows

BA2231 DEPART LGW 21:00 ARRIVE BKK 15:55+1 MONDAYS THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS
BA2230 DEPART BKK 22:55 ARRIVE LGW 05:30+1 TUESDAYS, FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS 

Commences 28th October from London Gatwick, 29th from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.
Operates during the winter season only.
Operates Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Gatwick, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from Suvarnabhumi
Booked Equipment: Boeing 777-200ER 

British Airways will operate a Boeing 777-200ER on this route, with a more heavy economy configuration, with  32 Club World, 48 World Traveller Plus, and 252 World Traveller seats installed

Return fares from London Gatwick start at:

• Club World: £3,257
• World Traveller Plus: £1,297
• World Traveller: £699

Interesting moves

We’ve seen airlines begin the return to Asia this year as traffic rebounds in the region. But it seems that British Airways sees different traffic flows. Kuala Lumpur is seen very much as a business class traffic route, with it being very premium-heavy, with a daily schedule.

Meanwhile, Bangkok is very much a leisure route, with it only operating during the winter season, three times a week, with the seating numbers weighing towards economy class seats.

It’s going to be interesting to see how these routes perform over the next year, but it seems the airline is looking beyond North America for routes.  For those travellers who wish to head east, it will be a welcome option.

Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.

Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on Twitter, Mastodon, BlueSky,  Threads and Instagram!

Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.