BA firms up plans for low-cost Gatwick subsidiary and new routes

BA suspended its European operations at Gatwick during the pandemic and moved a number of flights to Heathrow. Its 6.25am Larnaca service on Tuesday (29 March) marked the resumption from Gatwick, with other flights scheduled to depart for Amsterdam, Paphos and Tenerife.

In total, BA will offer 35 destinations from Gatwick, with more due to be added later this year, it said on Tuesday.

Services will initially operate under BA’s air operations certificate before operations are transferred to a new BA branded subsidiary, BA Euroflyer, later in the year.

BA confirmed BA Euroflyer "will operate in a similar manner to the company’s existing subsidiary, BA Cityflyer, flying under the British Airways brand and delivering a premium British Airways product".

It came to an agreement with unions last November for the new operation, which is designed with a lower-cost structure. BA’s pilots have also backed the operation.

Gatwick reopened its South Terminal at the weekend, with the airport now overseeing nearly 600 departures a day, up from 300.

Tom Stoddart, acting chief executive of BA Euroflyer, said the resumption of flights from Gatwick – BA’s first for two years – was a "significant milestone".

"I am looking forward to see our newest subsidiary grow, adding new routes and providing customers with more options to get away on holiday with a premium British Airways service," he said.