British Airways is to operate a daily service to Tel Aviv with a brand new Airbus A350 starting today, Sunday, December 1st, 2019. As the UK flag carrier waves goodbye to some of its older aircraft in favor of the A350 fitted out with BAs new Club Suite business class, flying from London to Tel Aviv has now gotten a whole lot better.

Flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) will operate as BA163 and from Tel Aviv to London as BA162.

BA163 to Tel Aviv will depart London Heathrow at 20:55 arriving at Ben Gurion Airport at 03:40 (+1 day).

On the return leg of the journey, flight BA162 will depart Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport at 06:15 and arrives at London Heathrow at 09:40.

Tel Aviv is a top holiday destination for BA in 2020

British Airways decided to put their third new Airbus A350 on the London to Tel Aviv route, having selected the eastern Mediterranean city as a top holiday destination for 2020. Often referred to as the “city that never sleeps,” Tel Aviv joins the Maldives, Seychelles, Durban, and Marrakesh as top holiday destinations for British Airways in 2020.

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British Airways was merged with Iberia to form IAG in 2011. Photo: British Airways 

While visiting Israel for the inauguration of the new Airbus A350-1000, British Airways global commercial manager Andrew Brem said at a press conference attended by THE TIMES OF ISRAEL:

“British Airways’ decision to add the new aircraft to the Israel route is an expression of the company’s confidence in Israel, and demonstrates British Airways’ longstanding commitment to this important market.

Brem then went on to point out that British Airways was celebrating its centenary and that the British flag carrier was the oldest international airline serving Israel with flights dating back to 1932 before the creation of the Jewish state.

Tel Aviv will be the first daily flight for BAs A350s

British Airways' third A350 will be one of the first A350s that will be put on only a daily route.  Like the others in its fleet, it features the all-new business class “Club Suites.”

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British Airways new "Club Class" business seats. Photo: BA

Each of the business class seats aboard British Airways A350s comes with a sliding door, touch screen entertainment system, dining table and can convert into a fully flatbed.

British Airways flew their first A350 from LHR to MAD

British Airways took delivery of their first A350 during the summer and immediately put it on the London Heathrow to Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD) route.

The reason for debuting the plane on a short-haul route was for crew familiarization and the fact that sister airline Iberia already had experience with the A350 having taken delivery of their first A350s earlier than BA.

Simple Flying reporter Tom Boon was aboard the inaugural flight to Madrid, which you can read about by clicking on the A350 LHR-MAD link. British Airways currently offers 19 weekly flights to Tel Aviv during the summer and 14 during the winter months.