British Airways (BA) will return to Melbourne for the first time since 2006 when it launches daily flights between Melbourne Airport and London Heathrow Airport in January 2027.
Melbourne Airport said the British carrier would operate daily services from Melbourne to London via Kuala Lumpur from 11 January using a four-class Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft.
From 9 January, flight BA33 will depart London Heathrow daily at 9:10 pm, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 6:05 pm the following day and then landing in Melbourne at 6:40 am the day after.
The return flight BA34 will commence from 11 January, departing Melbourne Airport at 4:35 pm, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 9:35 pm and then into London Heathrow at 5:20 am the next morning.
“We have a long history of connecting Britain and Australia, and we’re excited to be returning to this great city,” British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer Neil Chernoff said in a media release.
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.
Australia’s second busiest airport after Sydney, Melbourne Airport, recently unveiled plans for a A$4.5 billion (US$3.2 billion) expansion of its international terminal and is midway through a $500 million project to upgrade the international baggage system.
Melbourne Airport is owned by Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC), which also owns Launceston Airport, and is in turn owned by Dexus (27.32%), IFM Investors (25.17%), Future Fund (20.34%), SAS Trustee Corporation (18.47%) and Utilities of Australia (8.70%).
