Hamilton, Bermuda – Commencing March 28, 2021, Bermuda commercial air service from London will originate from Heathrow Airport, replacing service from Gatwick Airport, the Bermuda Ministry of Transport and British Airways announced jointly today. For Bermuda, this marks a welcome return to the UK’s busiest airport.
Heathrow Airport opens a wide and diverse range of flight connections for those travelling to and from Bermuda. While current demand for flights to Bermuda emanates mainly from the UK, Heathrow flights have the potential to stimulate significantly greater demand from the rest of the world, particularly European cities.
The Hon. David Burt, Premier of Bermuda and Minister responsible for Tourism, said: “This is a signature achievement which will provide a foundation to extend Bermuda’s tourism reach into Europe. The entire team who worked on this deserves our thanks as we set the stage for a new opportunity for tourism growth. British Airways has been a longstanding and valued partner and through this relationship we have partnered in an innovative change that will be welcomed by travellers to and from Bermuda.”
“The flights will start late March 2021 at four times per week,” confirmed Bermuda’s Minister of Transport the Hon. Neville Tyrrell. “We are delighted to continue our partnership with British Airways, an airline connecting Bermuda to London for more than 85 years. The island’s leading industry groups see clear benefits for international business and tourism as a result of this decision which should prove pivotal in the island’s pandemic recovery.”
Bermuda-bound and departing business travellers will be grateful to do away with time-consuming and frustrating ground connections between Gatwick and Heathrow, long thought to be a barrier to increased business travel between the British Overseas Territory and London. Additionally, the seemingly simple change from one London airport to another is expected to stimulate demand for Bermuda leisure travel.
“We are enthusiastic about this London airport shift and have already begun talks with British Airways and local hotel partners to create special consumer offers to launch the Heathrow service next year,” said Bermuda Tourism Authority Interim CEO Glenn Jones. “While the city hasn’t changed, we treat this development like an entirely new route because we believe the whole European travel landscape changes now in a positive way.”
“This is the first time we have flown to Bermuda from London’s biggest airport for over three decades and we look forward to welcoming customers to experience our world class facilities at Terminal 5,” said Neil Chernoff, British Airways Director of Network and Alliances. “Whether our customers are travelling on business, visiting friends and family or taking a European holiday, London Heathrow is the UK's largest airport and a gateway for many of our destinations worldwide.”
As the aviation industry continues on the road to recovery, the opportunity to make adjustments in London came about as a result of discussions between British Airways and Bermuda’s air service development team, made up of: Bermuda Airport Authority (BAA), Bermuda Tourism Authority, Bermuda Skyport Corporation and air service consultants Ailevon Pacific. With reduced air travel due to the global pandemic, slots became available at Heathrow that would otherwise not have been possible. When approached by Bermuda’s air service development team, British Airways was open to the swap and began discussions with BAA.
“The Bermuda Airport Authority is committed to creating value for Bermuda and is excited by the connectivity benefits that Heathrow Airport will offer the Island,” Airport Authority CEO Lester Nelson said. “This switch demonstrates the benefits of our collaborative, strategic approach to growing sustainable air service and we look forward to the new travel opportunities that Heathrow provides the Island’s residents and visitors.”
Representatives from the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers, Association of Bermuda International Companies, Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, Bermuda Hotel Association and Bermuda Business Development Agency were among the key industry groups consulted on this move. Unanimously, they agreed the switch in airports would benefit their members’ international business activities.