• 

  British Airways

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  BA/BAW

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport

  Year Founded:

  1974

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  Airline Group:

  IAG

  CEO:

  Sean Doyle

  Country:

  United Kingdom

British Airways confirmed this week that BA Euroflyer, its wholly owned subsidiary based at London Gatwick Airport, received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and Operating Licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The brand launched in March using the mainline BA fleet and is responsible for short-haul international flights from the airport.

BA Euroflyer functions much the same as the company's existing subsidiary, BA Cityflyer, which operates from London City Airport. The new individual Air Operator's Certificate and Operating Licence from the CAA enables the BA Euroflyer to transition its aircraft, flight crew, and cabin crew to the wholly owned subsidiary at London Gatwick.

British Airways launched the BA Euroflyer brand in March of this year. The debut of BA Euroflyer marked the return of international short-haul flying from London Gatwick following the COVID-19 pandemic as the airline began operations under the British Airways Air Operator's Certificate. Tom Stoddart, the acting CEO of BA Euroflyer, revealed his excitement at the announcement:

“Receiving the AOC is a momentous day in the BA Euroflyer journey and is testament to the hard work of the brilliant teams that have worked closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority on the AOC and Operating Licence applications, whilst also managing the ramp-up of a start-up airline during its first summer of operations”.

Over the summer, the fledgling brand flew customers to more than 30 destinations across the network, including Amsterdam, Santorini, and Marrakech.

How will the fleet look?

British Airways confirmed it would transfer ten Airbus A320s and nine A321s across to the new subsidiary over the next six months. They will gradually transition across from British Airways and join the existing Airbus A320 (registration G-GATL) in the BA Euroflyer fleet. The aircraft was most recently spotted on December 1st when it completed a 25-muniute test flight departing from and returning to London Gatwick airport.

The subsidiary is already responsible for its own staffing. The airline confirmed that hundreds of new flight crew, cabin crew, and office-based colleagues had joined the BA Euroflyer team since the brand launched in March. Flight and cabin crew are required to attend an Operator's Conversion Course to operate BA Euroflyer aircraft specifically. The airline is currently hiring cabin crew and senior cabin crew through the end of the year.

Customers flying on the airline's new subsidiary at London Gatwick may expect the same level of service as those flying on mainline British Airways flights. All customers receive a generous baggage allowance, free water and snacks, free seat selection within 24 hours, and frequent flyer benefits (which include lounge access for oneworld status members). Customers flying in Club Europe, the airline's business class product, may also take advantage of the premium check-in area, lounge access, and a complimentary gourmet meal and bar service onboard.

BA Euroflyer plans to operate more than 30 destinations from London Gatwick Airport for the Summer of 2023, including Bari, Dubrovnik, and Seville. Long-haul and domestic services from London Gatwick continue to be operated by the British Airways mainline fleet.

British Airways will also launch several long-haul flights from London's second-busiest airport in the coming months. The carrier has added Aruba and Georgetown (Guyana) to its network. Both will be a one-stop service, with London Gatwick to Aruba operating via Antigua and Georgetown via St Lucia. One destination, however, will become a nonstop from Gatwick. Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, which currently operates via St Lucia, will switch to a nonstop service on March 27th.