‍HARMONDSWORTH — British Airways (BA) is pushing forward with one of its most significant schedule boosts in years, adding more flights for the 2026 summer season. The airline says demand is running strong, and the new plan will bring extra capacity to the United States, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and even some fresh short-haul routes closer to home.

The flag carrier is finally moving away from just recovery mode and stepping back into proper growth.

Big Push in the United States

The US network is getting the biggest upgrade. Miami (MIA) will resume two daily flights out of London Heathrow (LHR), restoring a frequency that was missing since the pandemic. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) is also back to daily service, which makes sense given the airport is a major hub for BA’s Oneworld partner American Airlines (AA).

Las Vegas (LAS) is also on the list, with flights from Heathrow going up from 10 to 13 per week. That’s three extra services feeding the strong leisure market as well as the busy calendar of sports and conventions that keep Vegas packed year-round.

BA’s flagship New York (JFK) route is also seeing changes. From next summer, the service will operate only out of London (LHR), which the airline says will improve onward connections for travelers heading into Europe, the US, or further abroad.

In total, nine daily flights will run from Heathrow to New York, with the latest addition being operated on a Boeing 777-200. That aircraft comes fitted with First and the Club Suite product in business class, giving a more premium experience on what is already BA’s most crucial transatlantic route.

Bangkok Returns Stronger

On the Asia side, Bangkok (BKK) is now back in the network all year round instead of just the winter months. Flights will run from London Gatwick (LGW) with up to six weekly departures. British Airways says the change will add around 60,000 more seats annually between London and Thailand, a sign that demand has bounced back.

It’s also a smart move, since Bangkok has always drawn both leisure and business travellers from the UK, and other airlines have been building capacity into the region too.

Jamaica Stays Busy

In the Caribbean, Kingston (KIN) is getting a fourth weekly service. That’s more than 300 extra seats each week.

Although it may not seem significant compared to US routes, BA has consistently strong demand on Jamaica flights, and the additional frequency will provide passengers with more flexibility in choosing travel dates.

Other Additions

The Middle East is also part of the new schedule growth. Bahrain (BAH) is getting a daily service out of Heathrow, more than doubling what was on offer before. Jeddah (JED) will move up to five weekly flights, while Riyadh (RUH) gets a big jump to 14 flights per week. 

Doha (DOH) is also being upgraded to 14 flights per week, giving travellers to and from Qatar more flexibility in schedules.

Not everything is long haul. The airline is also opening up two new short-haul options for the winter schedule: Rabat (RBA) in Morocco and Graz (GRZ) in Austria. Both are niche destinations that add more variety to the network, catering to both leisure trips and some business demand.

What It Means

British Airways is betting on travellers wanting more choices and better schedules. With the US back at full swing, Bangkok year-round, and steady growth in the Caribbean, the carrier is covering both the premium and leisure ends of the market.

For passengers, it means more flights to pick from and fewer full planes when trying to grab a seat. For BA, it’s about keeping up with competitors who are also chasing the same markets.

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