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Coming up to two years’ ago, British Airways announced that it would add a third daily flight to its Heathrow – Newark route and give New York flyers a ‘daytime’ transatlantic option that doesn’t involve JFK.
The option has seemed quite popular, and after taking a break for part of the winter season, it was scheduled to return in February and continue on for most of the rest of the year.
That’s not the plan anymore.
As originally planned, British Airways will bring back its third daily Newark flight from 12 February on the following schedule:
BA185 LHR 10:45 – 12:00 EWR (Daily)
BA189 LHR 16:35 – 19:45 EWR (Daily)
BA181 LHR 18:50 – 22:05 EWR (Daily)
BA180 EWR 07:55 – 19:35 LHR (Daily)
BA184 EWR 17:40 – 05:50+1 day LHR (Daily)
BA188 EWR 21:15 – 09:20+1 day LHR (Daily)
But contrary to the original plan, the third flight now disappears from the schedules after 29 March.
This is what the summer schedule (from 31 March) will now look like:
BA185 LHR 11:10 – 13:55 EWR (Daily)
BA189 LHR 16:35 – 19:25 EWR (Daily)
BA184 EWR 17:40 – 05:50+1 day LHR (Daily)
BA188 EWR 21:15 – 09:20+1 day LHR (Daily)
A further point to note is that while all Newark flights are currently operated by 777 aircraft, the second flight of the day (BA188/189) will be operated by one of BA’s 787-10 aircraft from 28 March and the first flight of the day (BA184/185) will be following suit on 29 July.
Quick thoughts
I’m disappointed to see the Newark daytime flight get pulled. The flight times between the East Coast and London are now so short that it’s hard to get any rest before you find yourself descenting into London, so a daytime flight is a great option to have.
Yes, there’s still a daytime flight out of JFK, but, funnily enough, that involves schlepping out to JFK, while Newark is considerably more convenient (for me and large parts of the Manhattan population).
The introduction of the new 787-10 Dreamliners on the route probably won’t make a big difference (unless you’re an AvGeek) as the Dreamliner offers the same number of First Class seats as the 777-200 that it’s replacing, and just one fewer Business Class seat.
The technology on board the 787-10 will be better (screens, power outlets, etc…), but as the 777-200 and the Dreamliner offer the same Business Class seats (Club Suite), and as the dimensions of the seats in the Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins are the same on both aircraft, most passengers won’t be better or worse of (the First Class seats on the Dreamliner may be better … but I’m not sure).
Check your bookings
If you were booked to fly on BA180 or BA181 after 30 March and haven’t been contacted by the airline, check your bookings and give BA a call if you haven’t been rebooked in a way that works for you.
Bottom line
The London – New York route may be billed as the most profitable route in the world, but it’s not profitable enough to keep BA from pulling its 3rd daily flight to Newark.
From 30 March, British Airways will operate just two daily flights between London Heathrow and Newark, and while some of us will lament the loss of the Newark daytime flight, the fact that BA and AA operate so many flights to London out of JFK, means that most flyers probably won’t notice the loss at all.
