Airways

In a world of smartphones and content creators, airlines have strict rules on taking photos or videos while on board, with British Airways tightening its passenger regulations

Every airline has passenger regulations, but holidaymakers may not be aware of the restrictions on taking photos during a flight, as British Airways tightens its rules.

Heading off on holiday is always an exciting time, and it’s natural to want to document the journey, from arriving at the airport and boarding the plane to landing at that sun-drenched destination. But for those eager to take photos or videos during their flight, there are stringent guidelines to follow.

A vast number of airlines that fly thousands of Brits to holiday hotspots every year have specific policies on using a camera on board. While they affirm that it’s not a blanket ban and passengers are still allowed to take photos or videos during the flight, they can’t capture everything on board.

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Just recently, British Airways introduced tougher guidelines on taking photos and videos while on board and revised its passenger terms. In an update under section 11a on its ‘behaviour on the aircraft’ conditions, the airline noted that none of its crew should be filmed without their consent.

The update stated: “If, while you are on board the aircraft, we reasonably believe that you have filmed, live-streamed or photographed our crew or other colleagues without their consent, we may take any measures we think reasonable to prevent you continuing your behaviour.”

The airline went on to warn that passengers who fail to comply with these rules could be asked to disembark upon landing or be refused passage on the remaining legs of their journey, as shown on their ticket. That’s not all; the incident could be reported to the relevant authorities “with a view to them prosecuting” the passenger for any criminal offences that may have been committed.

BA also pointed out that if diversion expenses arise due to unacceptable conduct, and they redirect the aircraft to an “unscheduled place of destination” and remove a passenger from the plane, that traveller will be liable for the “reasonable and proper costs of the diversion”.

They’re not the only airline to have a policy of this nature in place. Outlining their own policies on the common habit, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told the Mirror: “We know our customers enjoy capturing moments during their journey, and photography and filming are permitted onboard. However, we ask that customers always seek permission before including other people, including our crew, in any photos or videos. The comfort and well-being of our customers and crew is always our priority, and our crew may ask customers to stop filming or photographing to protect the privacy of those onboard.”

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Wizz Air told us: “Wizz Air is proud of its cabin crew, who play a vital role in maintaining the safety and security of everyone on board. Filming or taking pictures of cabin crew without their consent is not tolerated on board. Passengers are required to follow crew instructions at all times, and where behaviour is considered disruptive, unsafe, or causes concern to crew or other passengers, appropriate action may be taken in line with our Conditions of Carriage. Our priority is always to help ensure a safe and respectful onboard environment for both passengers and crew.”

As for easyJet, a spokesperson told us: “Customers are welcome to take personal photos and videos as long as it doesn’t disturb the privacy of other customers or include the crew without their consent, so everyone can have a pleasant flight.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair states in its terms and conditions: “Recording or photographing our personnel, whether at the airport or onboard the plane, without their consent is strictly prohibited. Only recordings or photographs personal to you may be permitted.”

While airlines have these regulations in place, it doesn’t mean holidaymakers can’t document their flights. They’re still free to capture images of their seat, the view through the window, cabin features, meals, drinks and any other personal moments – provided they don’t film a crew member directly without their permission.

The same rule applies to photographing or filming fellow passengers on board without their consent. So as long as travellers remain mindful of their surroundings and what they’re recording, it shouldn’t be an issue.

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British Airways has enforced stricter rules for passengers, including a habit that is now banned, and if failed to comply, the airline may take ‘any measures’ necessary to stop it

British Airways has enforced stricter rules for passengers about a behaviour that could see them removed from the aircraft.

In a world of influencers and content creators, using smartphones on planes has become increasingly popular, with many opting to capture every moment of their journey in photos or videos. Even holidaymakers without a mega social media following often snap their experience on board.

While it might seem like a relatively harmless act, it can actually land travellers in serious trouble, whether they’re a content creator or not. British Airways has updated its terms for passengers on board, introducing stricter guidelines on taking photos and videos.

In an update under section 11a on its ‘behaviour on the aircraft’ conditions, the airline stated: “If, while you are on board the aircraft, we reasonably believe that you have filmed, live-streamed or photographed our crew or other colleagues without their consent, we may take any measures we think reasonable to prevent you continuing your behaviour.”

They further outlined that if passengers fail to comply with these rules, they could be asked to leave the aircraft, upon landing, or be refused carriage on the remaining sectors of the journey shown on their ticket. Additionally, it could also result in the incident on board being reported to relevant authorities “with a view to them prosecuting” the passenger for any criminal offences that might have been committed.

BA also noted that if diversion costs are a result of unacceptable behaviour, and they divert the plane to an “unscheduled place of destination” and make a passenger leave the aircraft, the traveller will have to pay the “reasonable and proper costs of the diversion”.

However, this doesn’t mean that passengers are completely banned from taking photos while on board. They can still grab a snap of their seat, view out of the window, cabin features, meals, drinks and any other personal highlights – as long as they don’t directly film a member of cabin crew without their consent.

This is the same rule for taking photos or videos of other passengers while on board without their consent. So as long as holidaymakers are wary of their surroundings and what they’re capturing, they can still document their journey, be it for social media or a personal travel album.

BA isn’t the only airline to enforce these rules, banning photos of cabin crew without consent. Ryanair states in its terms and conditions: “Recording or photographing our personnel, whether at the airport or onboard the plane, without their consent is strictly prohibited. Only recordings or photographs personal to you may be permitted.”

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AS THE fuel crisis continues to put pressure on airlines, it can be hard to know what it means for your upcoming flight.

For some airlines, rising fuel costs are being offset by raising the price of flight fares such as Virgin Atlantic, with British Airways also recently warning of flight fare increases.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Yet there are also a number of airlines that have vowed not to increase costs for their passengers. Here’s a full rundown of the UK airlines that have not changed their prices:

Jet2

Currently, Jet2 has not increased the prices of its flights and holidays due to rising jet fuel costs, and both holidays and flights with the company remain unaffected.

A Jet2 spokesperson told Sun Travel: “We remain in continual dialogue with our fuel suppliers, as is standard practice.

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“Based on the conversations we have been having, we see no reason not to look forward to operating our scheduled programme of flights and holidays as normal.”

Jet2 boss Steve Heapy added: “Holidaymakers should have every right to book their hard-earned break in the sun, without worrying about being hit with additional costs, and they can have that complete assurance when they book a flight or holiday with Jet2.

“As a result of today’s announcement, customers booking with Jet2 know that they are locking in their price without additional cost surprises later and we strongly believe that is the right thing to do by them.”

EasyJet

EasyJet is not increasing flight prices, nor is the airline currently impacted by the fuel crisis.

A spokesperson told Sun Travel that passengers would not “suddenly face unexpected fees added to their bookings to cover fluctuating commodity costs”.

They added that there were “no plans to make any changes to our flying schedule”.

TUI

TUI holidays are not be increasing prices to cover fuel costs and are currently not impacted by the fuel crisis.

A TUI spokesperson told Sun Travel: “We’re closely monitoring the developing situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on global aviation fuel supplies.

“At present, we’re not anticipating disruption to our flight schedules or holiday programmes from fuel shortages.”

Ryanair

Europe‘s biggest airline has not increased costs for passengers and has not cancelled any flights due to the fuel crisis yet.

This week, the airline’s CEO Michael O’Leary said that he was committed to not implementing price increases or adding fuel surcharges to flight fares.

However, O’Leary has previously warned that it could cancel flights in the future, saying: “We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated.”

Kuoni

When it comes to holiday package firm Kuoni – which specialises in tailor-made packages – they confirmed to MoneySavingExpert that no ‘holiday surcharge’ will be added to bookings.

Loveholidays

Similarly, Loveholidays – which offers packages to sunshine destinations and city breaks – also confirmed to MoneySavingExpert that there would be no additional charges on bookings.

The comment from the owner of BA comes after Jet2 said it would not introduce surcharges on any booked flights or holidays to cover cost increases

The parent company of British Airways has cautioned that airfares are set to climb as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the Iran conflict, has caused oil prices to surge dramatically.

International Airlines Group (IAG) announced on Friday that the ongoing Middle East crisis will push up the cost of flights to account for soaring jet fuel prices.

Airlines routinely purchase a portion of their fuel in advance at fixed rates to shield themselves from price fluctuations, a strategy commonly referred to as “hedging”.

Despite this, IAG warned that it remained “not immune” to the wider consequences of the Middle East conflict. The group insisted it had yet to experience any disruption to its jet fuel supply, amid growing concerns over potential future shortages as a result of the ongoing hostilities.

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The government is “closely monitoring” fuel stocks as airlines brace themselves for possible shortages, with oil tankers still unable to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. It has also emerged that airports are set to make it simpler for airlines to cancel flights without jeopardising their allocated take-off and landing slots, should fuel shortages prevent them from operating. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that airlines will no longer be obliged to adhere to the “use it or lose it” rule at UK airports, whereby carriers must utilise at least 80% of their allocated slots during a season in order to retain them for the following year. “Airport Coordination Limited, the independent body that manages slot allocation at UK airports, has updated its guidance so that airlines will not lose their slots if fuel shortages prevent them from flying,” the DfT statement confirmed.

“Airlines can now apply for an exemption from the ‘use it or lose it’ rule in these circumstances.”

Meanwhile, Jet2 has revealed it will not be imposing surcharges on any previously booked flights or holidays to offset rising costs, reassuring customers that the price they book is the price they will pay.

The policy covers all flights and holidays booked through any channel, whether online, via the mobile app, contact centre or through an independent travel agent. Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 said: “Holidaymakers should have every right to book their hard-earned break in the sun, without worrying about being hit with additional costs, and they can have that complete assurance when they book a flight or holiday with Jet2. As a result of today’s announcement, customers booking with Jet2 know that they are locking in their price without additional cost surprises later and we strongly believe that is the right thing to do by them. Ahead of a busy summer this is yet more evidence of why, on top of our incredible holidays and award-winning customer service, nothing beats a Jet2holiday.”

FOR many of us, the idea of being a pilot is about as glamorous as it gets – but what is it actually like? Is all that globe-hopping as magical as it seems?

We spoke to two of BA’s most experienced pilots, to find out what really goes on behind the closed cockpit door when the planes are in the sky.

It is no easy feat becoming a pilot but for British Airways‘ Training Standard Captain Andy Godwin and Senior Flight Training Manager Mark Dorman, flying feels like second nature.

The duo – who are training up wannabe pilots in the British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy (applications currently open) – have answered some of the most common questions people have about flying a British Airways plane…

What’s something people always get wrong about BA planes?

“Everyone things you’d start a plane just like you would a car,” Mark told us. “But in reality, it doesn’t even have a set of keys – either to start it or even get inside.”

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“We walk down the jetty, there’s a procedure to open the door, and you just knock – there’s no ignition either.”

What do the pilots eat during a flight?

Mark told us: “We eat very similar food as passengers but we have our own crew meals loaded.

“They’re cooked in the same way, they’ll quite often look quite similar but because of what we’ve potentially done before or what we’re potentially doing after [the flight] – the amount and the timings of food can vary.”

How do you stay alert with such antisocial schedules?

Andy said: “It’s all about planning ahead. You might have a run of early trips, where you don’t even necessarily have a risk of jet lag, but you’re always thinking about your next sleep to keep your energy up.

“Because short haul can be tough on the body too – you’re working really hard with short sectors, bouncing around doing lots of briefings and lots of talking to the crew as well as passengers, so it’s important to care of little things like staying hydrated.”

What was your most memorable flight?

Mark said: “I once flew an empty plane back from the Arctic, overthe Northern Lights.

“Because there were no passengers on board we were able to switch all of the lights off.

“It meant for the flight crew and the cabin crew, the aircraft was only lit by the Northern Lights for about 20 minutes – there was a really cool, weird green glow in the plane. It was a quite surreal experience.”

He added: “One of my other favourite moments is when I realised I was flying an aeroplane – I was still a co-pilot at the time – and my friend was the captain.”

“We sort of looked at each other like we couldn’t quite believe that we’d been allowed to go flying an aeroplane together, with 140 passengers behind us.

“You sort of pinch yourself a little bit.”

What’s your favourite airport to fly into?

Andy said: “Heathrow is always pretty cool.

“You’re coming home, you get incredible views, there’s a familiarity to it, it’s busy, it’s quite challenging at times but it’s nice.”

But for overseas, both pilots agreed on one particularly special destination – if a little scary at times – is Innsbruck in Austria.

Innsbruck Airport is in a valley, with such steep mountains either side that it’s a ‘Category C’ airport, which means it requires special training.

Despite it perhaps being a more technical airport to land at, the mountains either side lend themselves to a spectacular landing and taking off experience with amazing views.

Mark said: “I feel very lucky to have been able to go and fly there.

“I guess the other places that I like, again it sounds a bit silly but places with nice views, I really like flying into Nice because it’s a really interesting approach and you get the most amazing view of the Cap d’Antibes coast around to Cannes.

“Again it’s one of those moments where you’re like, we’re actually doing this.”

What is one of the biggest misconceptions about being a BA pilot?

Andy said: “A question that we’ll quite often get is about what aeroplane we fly and why don’t we just switch to another, almost as if you’re switching between car manufacturers.

“Pilots are only licensed to fly one aircraft at a time so we couldn’t just go and fly another aircraft even though it’s broadly similar.”

“Most pilots are proud of the plane they fly and love being asked about it, the routes it does or anything that allows them to show off their knowledge.”

How can you train to be a British Airways pilot?

Currently, British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy applications are open – an opportunity for wannabe pilots to join a fully-funded programme to train as a BA pilot.

With 160 places available, the scheme is in its fourth year and covers the entire £100,000 cost of pilot training, over two years.

Trainees start on the ground for six months before taking the controls of a tiny four-seater plane and eventually moving up to a two-engine aircraft.

Andy said: “In a matter of months, you’re flying something lighter than a family car.

“Within a year, you’re in something 100 times heavier…”

One of the final hurdles after training on a simulator and in smaller planes, is taking off and landing a plane with zero passengers on board.

“It’s a once-in-a-career moment,” Andy said. “You do about six take-offs and landings to get your eye in before we let you fly the real thing with passengers.

“[This is] a very significant milestone in a pilot’s career.”

All trainees who complete the scheme are guaranteed a flying role with BA upon completion.

To apply to the Speedbird Academy you need to be 18-years-old or over at the start of training, have six GCSEs grade A-C or 4-9, including Maths, English Language and a Science, be fluent in English, have a valid passport and be between 1.52metres and 1.9metres tall.

Applications to the programme close on April 23.

In other flight news, a major airline is set to axe 20,000 flights this summer amid soaring fuel costs due to Iran war.

Plus, here’s the secret tool British Airways uses to launch new airline routes – and the little-known months they announce them.

A man splurged almost £7,000 on a first class flight with British Airways but one big issue left him feeling unimpressed with some saying he has “sufficient evidence for a refund”

A man forked out almost £7,000 on a first class flight with British Airways but branded his experience “shocking” due to one specific downside.

Flying first class is a dream many people have, especially on a long-haul flight as standard airline seats are notoriously tight and cramped. For those lucky enough to snap up a first class ticket, their expectations may be as high as the price. Now one content creator, known as Jabz, splashed £6,800 on a first class ticket with British Airways and documented his experience in a vlog-style video which he shared to social media.

In the footage, which was posted on Instagram to his 213,000 followers, he narrated his thoughts. Jabz began: “I just flew British Airways’ first class which was £6,800 and it was shocking.”

He did praise the cabin, which looked quite “modern” with a “minimal” design. It also came with a “super wide” seat which offered “more than enough space” to stretch out his “long” legs.

Jabz said: “The only downside is there was no privacy door which is a shame because even business classes have them now.”

When he was handed an “amenity kit” and a set of pyjamas, he was immediately impressed, and then enjoyed a welcome drink while he familiarised himself with the features of his seat.

But things took a turn for the worst after he was handed a menu. First class passengers are able to “request different meals before departure”, which he did, but was told by staff that “they forgot to load it onto the plane”.

Jabz said sarcastically: “That’s fine because there’s gonna be other options, right?”

He had wanted a fish dish but this wasn’t possible. He continued: “BA said they only had one fish meal in first class and someone had already requested it but they said they’re gonna check what they had spare in the lower cabins to see what they could do.

“Talk about first world problems but that’s just not what I paid for. I’m over here getting treated like I’m Oliver Twist.”

He then included clips of all the meals he was served onboard. He branded a tomato soup “actually quite decent” but said a “cold plate of tomatoes, paneer and couscous” was “really not good, unfortunately”.

Jabz jokingly described his main dish as a plate of “glippy gloop and fizzy widgets”. He said: “If this is what they’re serving in first class, the food in economy must be radioactive because I genuinely don’t know what this is supposed to be.”

He was “excited” for dessert which “looked good” but “tasted like baby oil and sugar” while the accompanying fruit plate contained mangoes which “weren’t even ripe”.

Jabz also noted the first class bathroom didn’t contain a shower, which differed to previous experiences he enjoyed on other first class flights.

Onto a positive feature, he praised the “really cool” wardrobe outside first class seats which allows passengers to hang up their clothes once they’ve changed into the provided pyjamas. After returning to his seat, he noted the flight attendant had made it into a bed so he could lay down and get some rest. Jabz was pleased it was “really spacious” and said it was “one of the more comfortable cabins to sleep in”.

But his final plate of food was made up of “miscellaneous ingredients” that he wasn’t impressed by.

In the comments section, fellow Instagram users were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “Flying first class is a personal dream that I’ll likely never achieve. Thanks BA for making me feel so much happier about not being able to afford it.”

Another quipped: “You have sufficient evidence for 70% refund.”

A third said: “These for £6,700? No thanks.”

Another added: “That is pretty shocking. That food wouldn’t be barely passable in business but First? It should be pure gourmet.”

Meanwhile others had more positive things to say about their previous experiences. One said: “Yes I fly First Class to Barbados, worth it. I love BA, thanks.”

While someone else commented: “I’ve flown BA business with the new sliding doors and it was great.”

What does BA offer in First Class?

According to BA’s website, a first class experience comes with “exceptional, elegant service”. It added: “Your own private, spacious suite, a fully flat bed with luxurious bedding.

“Delicious, indulgent fine dining. Temperley London loungewear, amenity bag and slippers. Seven-piece luxury skin and body care collection from Elemis. Access to luxurious lounges. Exclusive and dedicated service. Priority boarding.”

The airline prides itself on providing a “luxury travel experience” where you can “cross the world’s skies comfortably, enjoying excellent food”.

BA has been approached for a comment.

THE Iran crisis is continuing to affect travel with airlines having to stop flights to the Middle East.

British Airways is scheduled to start flying back to the likes of Dubai and Doha in July – but has announced it will drop one service completely.

BA will drop its service from London Heathrow to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia permanently from April 24, 2026.

The airline had been operating a four flights a week service since November 2024.

But a shift in demand, due to the conflict in the Middle East, has led to the airline terminating the service.

However, British Airways is set to resume flying to the Middle East next month with flights to Riyadh restarting in mid-May.

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It is also scheduled to start flying to Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv on July 1 at the earliest.

But these services will be reduced from what they were before the conflict began.

Flights to Dubai will go from three each day to one daily flight while services to Doha, Tel Aviv and Riyadh will drop from two flights to just one a day.

Flights to the city of Larnaca in Cyprus are scheduled to resume on May 22.

Meanwhile, services to Bahrain and the city of Amman in Jordan, are paused until October 25.

British Airways said: “Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, we have made further changes to our flying schedule to provide greater clarity for our customers.

“We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.”

Due to its reduced flight schedule, BA has said it will use its freed up aircraft to head to other destinations like India and Kenya.

It will begin daily flights to Bengaluru in India and Nairobi in Africa during the summer season until late October.

It will operate a third daily service from London Heathrow to Delhi until May 31.

The airline will add its third daily flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai from May 15 to 31.

Here’s more on another major airline that has axed hundreds of flights until end of summer amid fuel cost crisis.

And one domestic airline has cancelled its London flights for rest of the season due to ongoing fuel crisis.

Dubai Airport has seen substantial flight disruption as British Airways announces it will halt all flights into Dubai until June as Iranian attacks on airports across the region continue

British Airways (BA) has cancelled all flights into Dubai until June as Iran continues its attacks on the UAE.

BA confirmed that flights to Amman, Bahrain, Dubai and Tel Aviv were now cancelled up to and including May 31, and flights to Doha were cancelled until April 30, the airline said in a new update.

“[The cancellations are] due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers,” a BA spokesperson said.

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In 2025, Dubai International Airport was the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, accommodating nearly 90 million travellers.

December 2025 alone saw around 8.7 million passengers, the busiest single month in the airport’s history, The Express reports.

The airport connects travellers to 291 destinations across 110 countries.

The UK Foreign Office currently advises caution or against all but essential travel to the UAE and other Gulf states due to regional tensions.

Those already in the UAE are advised to follow local authorities’ instructions, register your presence with the UK government and be prepared for sudden changes in the security situation.

Despite Dubai being on the UK Foreign Office’s “No go” list, many travellers were still choosing to take the risk and fly there, Travel journalist Simon Calder told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme.

BRITISH AIRWAYS is launching two exciting new long-haul routes from the UK.

The airline is launching a route to Melbourne in Australia and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The Melbourne route will be launching on January 9, 2027 in time for the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix.

The flights will operate year-round from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, on a daily basis.

It will take off from Heathrow at 9:10pm and land in Kuala Lumpur at 6:05pm the next day.

The flight will then take off again at 7:45pm and land in Melbourne the following morning at 6:40am.

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The return leg will start on January 11, taking off each day at 4:35pm and landing in Kuala Lumpur at 9:35pm.

The flight will then take off from Kuala Lumpur at 11:15pm and land back at Heathrow the following day at 5:20am.

Return flights will cost from £1,130 and go on sale on March 17.

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and is Australia‘s second-largest city.

It was recently named the world’s best city by Time Out, with it scoring high among younger residents as well as for its food scene, art and culture scene nightlife.

The city is also often ranked among the world’s most liveable cities.

When you are there you can explore the city’s lively arts scene in Fitzroy, where there are a number of vintage shops, record stores and cosy cafes.

The city often hosts major sporting events as well, such as Formula One.

Melbourne also loves its coffee, with a large café culture including hidden bars and restaurants.

Flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka will launch sooner, on October 23, 2026.

The flights will operate three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from London Gatwick to Colombo.

The route will only operate during the winter though.

The flight will depart at 5:30pm each time, landing in Colombo the following day at 9am.

And the return leg – which starts on October 24 – will depart at 11am and land back at Gatwick at 5pm.

Return fares start from £620 and also go on sale on March 17.

Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka and is known as a vibrant and bustling city.

Top things to do include heading to Pettah Market, which features different ‘zones’ for specific goods, including spices and textiles.

Make sure to explore the colonial-era buildings in the Fort area as well.

Tuk-tuks are popular in the city too and are an experience in themselves.

In addition to the two new routes, BA is also boosting capacity on several routes including Cape Town in South Africa; Tokyo in Japan; Bridgetown in Barbados; Kingston in Jamaica and San Jose in Costa Rica.

Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: ”We’re delighted to announce sizeable growth to our flying schedule for winter 2026, including two notable new destinations that I’m confident will prove popular with our customers.

“We’re also increasing services across several high-demand routes around the world.

“Together, these changes represent a significant investment in our long-haul leisure network, adding even more options and choice for our customers.”

In other flight news, there are 37 new flights launching from a major UK airport this year including budget routes to Asia.

Plus, a UK airport is launching its biggest ever flight schedule with 19 new routes in major £60million expansion.

The popular airline has made the big announcement to relaunch the daily flights as part of its winter expansion, serving travellers and residents of both countries

British Airways have made a huge announcement that they are relaunching daily flights to a popular city for UK passengers – ahead of a couple of huge worldwide sporting events.

The airline will be returning to Melbourne after a 20-year hiatus.

BA made the announcement on Tuesday, March 17 that flights will be starting in January 2027.

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The flights will commence flights to Melbourne from January 9, 2027, launching in time for the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix. Flights will operate year-round from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, on a daily basis.

Passengers will be able to choose from First, World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and Club World (business class) in both directions.

Return fares start from £1,130 (including taxes and carrier fees) and are on sale from today.

The UK airline halted all services from Melbourne Airport in March 2006 with other companies being relied on for people to make the London-Melbourne journey.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said the announcement underscored Melbourne’s place as Australia’s largest and best connected 24-hour gateway.

“We are thrilled to welcome British Airways back to Melbourne Airport and we’re incredibly excited about what this extra choice means for travellers and exporters,” she said.

“British Airways is one of the world’s most recognisable airlines and in its more than 100 years of flying has earned a well-deserved reputation for excellence and reliability.

“With the largest choice of airlines flying to the UK and Europe, 24-hour operations and the shortest minimum connection time of any Australian airport, Melbourne Airport is now the clear choice for Europeans heading to Australia or Australians looking to travel abroad.

“London is one of the world’s great global cities and a critical hub for business, tourism and education, while Melbourne was last week voted Time Out’s “best city in the world” as well as being home to the largest British expat community in Australia, so there will be no shortage of two-way demand.”

The move is part of a significant planned expansion to BA’s network for winter 2026, with the addition of Colombo in Sri Lanka as well.