British Airways Returns to Melbourne After 20 Years with New Route

British Airways has announced plans to launch daily flights from London Heathrow to Melbourne beginning January 2027, marking the airline's return to the Australian city after a 20-year absence since 2006. Tickets are expected to go on sale in late March 2026, with return fares starting between £800 and £1,100.

The service will operate as an extension of the existing London Heathrow-Kuala Lumpur route, with a refueling stop at Kuala Lumpur International Airport before continuing to Melbourne. British Airways will use Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with four cabin classes, including First Class and Club World. The total journey time is approximately 21 hours, strategically timed to coincide with major Australian events like the Australian Open and Grand Prix.

Neil Chernoff, British Airways' chief planning and strategy officer, described the expansion as a significant investment in the airline's long-haul leisure network amid rising demand for UK-Australia travel. The Melbourne launch complements existing services to Sydney and Colombo, part of broader schedule growth designed to capture traffic diverted from Middle East conflicts.