Media Clips

3/27/17 British Airways launches first direct London-New Orleans flight

Evening Standard

3/27/17 5 things you need to know Monday USA Today

3/27/17 British Airways' London-New Orleans service already expanding after inaugural flight arrives

The New Orleans Advocate

3/27/17 Non-stop New Orleans to London flights expected to boost economy

WVUE

3/27/17 British Airways already has plans to expand its nonstop flight from New Orleans to London

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

3/27/17 British Airways Officially Begins Flying Between New Orleans and London

Nasdaq Global Newswire

3/28/17 Greater New Orleans is Ready to Fly

American Journal of Transportation

3/28/17 British Airways lands in New Orleans WWL TV

3/28/17 Newest International Route Links Two Gems For Travelers, London And New Orleans

Forbes

British Airways launches first direct London-New Orleans flight Tom Powell

British Airways has today launched a new direct flight between London and New Orleans, the cultural capital of America’s Deep South. The airline will run four services a week from Heathrow to the city known as the ‘Big Easy’. The new route, operated by a three-class Boeing 787-8, makes BA the only airline to be flying direct between Europe and the Louisiana city. Starting from £599 for a return ticket, the journey to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport takes just under ten hours. Sean Doyle, Director of Networks and Alliances, said: "We are really excited to be adding New Orleans to British Airways' extensive global network. It's a city that boasts an iconic music and arts scene and plays host to more than 130 festivals a year, including the world famous Mardi Gras. "Holidaymakers can enjoy the jazz and blues music trails, visit the historic sugarcane plantations, cruise down the Mississippi River or relax on the unspoilt Gulf Shores and Orange Beaches which are just a short drive away.” BA said the flights will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, departing from Heathrow at 3.40pm and arriving in to New Orleans at 7:40pm. The return will leave New Orleans at 9.10pm, arriving into London at 12.00 noon the next day.

5 things you need to know Monday - British Airways launches Dreamliner service to New Orleans

British Airways said it would begin flying to New Orleans on Monday, making the Louisiana city the carrier’s 23rd destination in the United States. The airline announced four flights a week on its 214-seat Boeing 787-8 “Dreamliner” aircraft last fall, offering service to British Airways’ hub at London Heathrow. British Airways says New Orleans customers will be able to connect via Heathrow to 130 other cities “throughout Europe and beyond.”

British Airways' London-New Orleans service already expanding after inaugural flight arrives

Richard Thompson

For the first time in more than three decades, Louis Armstrong International Airport on Monday began regular transatlantic service to London, a move that local officials and business leaders have predicted will draw more international travelers to New Orleans. Not long after the inaugural flight landed Monday evening, British Airways announced plans to increase the frequency of the service to London's Heathrow Airport from the initial four times per week to five, starting this fall. “We are honored to be able to connect New Orleans with London Heathrow and the 130-plus destinations that British Airways flies to across Europe and beyond," said Nicolas Krohne, the airline's vice president of sales. "With a favorable exchange rate and special fares available, Britain has never been more affordable." British Airways will offer promotional fares starting at $899 round-trip in economy class, including taxes, fees and charges, for travel booked by April 16 and scheduled for select dates from June 7 to Sept. 18 and from Oct. 2 to Dec. 13. Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., an economic development group that helped lure the flight, said British Airways' decision to increase capacity "before the first plane has even taken off is a great validation for the early demand from this market, as well as the UK." He said, "The level of excitement that we are hearing from corporate executives to tourists to friends and family exceeds even our high expectations for the enthusiasm that this flight would generate." George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, a travel blog, said Monday that the introductory fares were "pretty reasonable" for nonstop service during a peak travel period. Passengers would save only a couple of hundred dollars by choosing nondirect alternatives, he said. "You're flying nonstop and you're flying on British Airways, so you don't have to pay for carry-on bags, you get a meal and all that stuff," Hobica said. "It's a quality experience." For now, flights are scheduled to leave London at 3:10 p.m. and arrive in New Orleans at 7:10 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Departing flights will leave New Orleans at 9:15 p.m. on the same days and arrive in London at 11:55 a.m. the next day. The flight to London is scheduled to take eight hours and 40 minutes. The return flight, which must contend with the jet stream, clocks in at 10 hours.

Starting Oct. 30, the service will begin operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The aircraft being used for the service is among the newest in British Airways’ fleet: the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which accommodates 214 passengers in three cabins, including 154 seats in economy class, 25 in premium economy and 35 in business. Flights include free meals, beverages, on-demand entertainment and a checked bag. Monday's inaugural flight marked the culmination of a four-year effort to persuade a large international carrier to offer nonstop service between New Orleans and a premier European destination — with London being local officials' top choice. In announcing the new service in October, those officials pointed to it as a draw for more international travelers to head to New Orleans from a world business capital like London, forecasting that it would generate roughly $41 million in annual tourism spending for the metro area. "A flight linking London to New Orleans will allow even more international visitors to experience our vibrant neighborhoods, evolving food and art scene, admired traditions and so much more," said Stephen Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. New Orleans hasn't had a nonstop flight to Europe since 1982. In addition to British Airways' new route, the German airline Condor is slated to begin nonstop serviceto Frankfurt in May. More than 430 passengers a day travel from New Orleans to Western Europe by way of regional hubs like Atlanta, tourism officials say. New Orleans’ airport already offers nonstop service to a handful of foreign cities, including several Caribbean locations and Toronto. Miami-based National Airlines operated the first nonstop flight from New Orleans to Europe in the late 1970s. National was acquired by Pan Am in 1980, and the service ended not long afterward. Consumer demand fell after the oil bust of the mid-'80s and in subsequent years wasn’t great enough to entice another airline to fill the void. Meanwhile, the number of international tourists traveling to the Crescent City grew by more than one-third in 2015, federal statistics show — the biggest one-year jump of any major U.S. city. That was welcome news for the city's tourism industry because international travelers tend to stay longer and spend more money during their visit than U.S. tourists. All told, visitors to New Orleans spent $7.4 billion in 2016, a record amount that was up almost 5 percent from 2015, according to a recent University of New Orleans study. The city hosted a record 10.5 million visitors in 2016, its highest number since 2004 and nearly 7 percent more than in 2015. All told, more than 11.1 million passengers — counting both those who landed and those who departed — went through the New Orleans airport last year, the highest tally in its seven-decade history.

Non-stop New Orleans to London flights expected to boost economy Rob Krieger

KENNER, LA - The first trans-Atlantic commercial flight out of Louis Armstrong International Airport since 1982 takes off this evening as business leaders make a big bet on the Brits. British Airways 787 Dreamliner will make four flights a week from New Orleans to the U.K., something that represents a real business opportunity for local companies. "In June we're gonna be taking a group of what will probably be 100 business people from New Orleans over to the UK to understand particularly the post-Brexit environment so that we can build the relationships with local Louisiana companies but also to encourage companies from the UK to come and invest in Louisiana," said Michael Hecht with GNO, Inc. Hecht hopes to attract businesses and tourists using the pitch that Louisiana offers a low-cost destination and unrivaled culture. "We have this world-class culture which is particularly attractive to people in Europe. In fact, we were just voted the number seven city in the world by the readers of Travel and Leisure, so it's just low cost, high culture - that's the pitch," Hecht said. Travelers like Tami Brisset won't need a pitch to take the flight.She booked her trip to London the day the flights were announced. "Called my sister and said, 'You're not gonna believe it. We've got non-stop from New Orleans, we don't have to connect anymore. What do you want to do? Let's go?' She said, 'Let's go!'" Brisset said. Brisset travels often to London, and for the first time she's expecting to enjoy the flight. "It was always a very long layover, several hours to a connecting flight, sometimes running to a connecting flight. It was just a really stressful situation. With today, we left the house, got here early, thought we'd enjoy it. We knew it was a big day for New Orleans and for everybody, and we're just excited. The plane flight is gonna be just as exciting as the trip," Brisset said. British citizen Michael Reid unintentionally booked the inaugural flight home and now he said a trip back is more enticing. "What you don't want to do is turn up felling completely exhausted and drained. You wan to be able to get to business, enjoy New Orleans and come home without thinking it's going to be an absolute mission, as it were, to get there and back, so I'm very pleased," Reid said. British Airways initially planned on four flights a week but it's so confident in the direct flight it will add a fifth flight in October.

British Airways already has plans to expand its nonstop flight from New Orleans to London

Jennifer Larino

Elaine Garvey has spent a good portion of her adult life waiting, wishing and hoping for a nonstop flight to connect her new home in New Orleans to her childhood home in the United Kingdom. On Monday night (March 27), she finally got her wish. Nothing -- not the security line, the carry-on luggage nor her excited 3-year-old using the airport seating as gymnastics equipment -- could weigh down her grin as she waited at Louis Armstrong International Airport to board British Airways' inaugural nonstop flight to London. Garvey is a native of Northern Ireland, but has lived in the U.S. for the past 17 years, including 10 years in New Orleans. She makes the trip across the Atlantic to see her mother in Ireland and close friends in London several times a year. In the past, it has involved long hours stuck waiting for connections in major hub airports such as Houston, New York or Atlanta. The nonstop flight makes her loved ones feel closer, she said. "I know in my mind that it's the same distance, but you just feel so much closer because it's just one flight away," Garvey said, adding she bought tickets almost immediately after the flight was announced in October. British Airways is optimistic Louisiana has more travelers like Garvey who will take advantage of the new route. Nicolas Krohne, vice president of sales for British Airways, announced Monday the airline will add an extra day to its planned flight schedule, increasing the route from four to five days a week. Starting Oct. 30, the connection will be available on Tuesdays in addition to Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. "The flight is performing well," Krohne said. "On both sides of the pond, people are really excited about it." The British Airways flight is the first nonstop route to connect New Orleans and Europe in more than 30 years. A jazz band played at Gate C11 Monday evening as state and local officials mingled after a 7:30 p.m. press conference and ribbon cutting officially welcoming the new flight. The new flight comes as a $917 million terminal is under construction across the runway. This January the project was expanded to include five additional gates after a record number of travelers came through the airport in 2016.

Jeff Hebert, chief administrative officer for New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration, said the British Airways flight underscores the momentum the city has as well as the need to invest in its airport infrastructure. Hebert thanked British Airways on behalf of Landrieu, who was unable to attend Monday's event. "A world-class international airport is going to create the jobs of the future," Hebert said. "Creating a world-class airport makes economic sense." The London flight was the culmination of several years of talks between British Airways and local business and tourism leaders. The city had missed previous attempts to lure the flight, including in 2015 when British Airways chose instead to bring a nonstop to San Jose, Calif. A year later, efforts to sell New Orleans as a growing regional hub for incoming international travelers and outgoing American travelers finally gained the traction needed to lure the route. "We didn't get it the first time or the second time, but when we got it, we got it good," Hecht said, noting the flight has already been expanded. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, one of about a dozen officials and business leaders who boarded the inaugural flight, urged those attending Monday to spread the news of the flight among family and friends. "Remember the Saints are playing in London this year," Nungesser said, drawing laughs. The New Orleans Saints are set to play the Miami Dolphins Oct. 1 at Wembley Stadium in London. For its part, British Airways is running $899 fare on round-trip economy fare for select dates from June 7 to Sept. 18 and from Oct. 2 to Dec. 13. Tickets must be purchased by April 16. The British Airways flights depart London on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 3:40 p.m. local time and arrive at 7:40 p.m. New Orleans time. Returning flights leave New Orleans at 9:10 p.m. and arrive in London the next day at noon. Garvey, a director with CPA firm Postlethwaite & Netterville, has already jumped on buying tickets for her and her 3-year-old daughter, Evie, for later this year. A London friend has bought tickets to take the flight to New Orleans for a visit in April. Garvey will lean on the flight to whittle her mother's trips from Ireland to New Orleans down from three stops to two. The only thing left to do is set little Evie up with a frequent flyer account, she joked. "Just knowing we can leave tonight and be with friends in the morning," Garvey said. "I could not be a bigger fan of all of this."

British Airways Officially Begins Flying Between New Orleans and London

NEW YORK, March 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- British Airways touched down at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport this evening, marking the start of the new nonstop service between New Orleans and London. At a press conference in front of local dignitaries, business leaders, and departing customers, British Airways signaled its confidence in the service by announcing an increase from four to five days a week for the winter schedule.

Nicolas Krohne, Vice President of Sales for British Airways said: “We are honored to be able to connect New Orleans with London Heathrow and the 130 plus destinations that British Airways flies to across Europe and beyond. With a favorable exchange rate and special fares available, Britain has never been more affordable.”

Flights are available to book on ba.com and right now British Airways is offering fares for as low as $899 roundtrip in economy, including all taxes, fees, and charges. Tickets need to be booked by April 16, 2017 and seats at the promotional price are available for select dates between June 7 and September 18, 2017, as well as between October 2 and December 13, 2017.

From October 30, 2017, the service will increase from four to five times a week, operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Stephen Perry, President & CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau said: “With the start of the new British Airways direct flight, we look forward to further introducing New Orleans as a world-class destination to the UK and other European markets. A flight linking London to New Orleans will allow even more international visitors to experience our vibrant neighborhoods, evolving food and art scene, admired traditions and so much more. New Orleans and Louisiana are ready to continue sharing our authentic spirit and culture with travelers from around the world.”

Onboard the Dreamliner

The aircraft is one of the newest in British Airways’ fleet. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner accommodates 214 customers across three cabins, with 154 seats in World Traveller (economy), 25 seats in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and 35 seats in Club World (business). All customers can enjoy free meals, beverages, on-demand entertainment, and a free checked bag.

The airline has teamed up with award-winning London drinking den NOLA to create a New Orleans Creole food menu which will be served to all customers on flights between the two cities for the first month of service. Executive chef Brett Milligan has collaborated with British Airways’ in-house chefs to create courses which blend authentic Deep South flavors alongside traditional cooking techniques.

Rewarding Customers

Recognizing and understanding the needs of small and medium size businesses, American Airlines’ Business Extra® program allows members traveling on British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines to collect and spend across all three airlines, with coordinated benefits that help businesses to stretch their travel budgets.

A joint business agreement between American, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair allows members of the AAdvantage, Executive Club and Plus programs to earn and redeem points or miles on codeshare flights across the airlines. Customers also get access to great prices across all four airlines with the ability to mix and match flights to get the best deals and enjoy smoother connections for onward flights.

Greater New Orleans is Ready to Fly British Airways flight 224 took off tonight from New Orleans, and will land nine hours later in Europe, at London Heathrow. The last time a regularly scheduled flight did this was in 1982, 35 years ago. And, demand for this new flight is so strong that BA has already decided to add another day to the route, bringing the service to five days a week during peak months.

This direct connection to Heathrow, the third busiest airport in the world, is a game-changer for Greater New Orleans. It will have a major positive stimulation effect on business, tourism and conventions. As Greg Rusovich, Chairman of the Louisiana Board of International Commerce, said, “This is a knock-it-out-of-the-park win for our state and region – it’s a perfect demonstration of the success and effectiveness of our global concentration and focus. London and beyond, here we come!”

So how did they get to London? Teamwork and perseverance (and technology).

Landing this British Airways flight was the result of a 4+ year team effort, led by the Airport, Stephen Perry and the NOCVB, and GNO, Inc. The Mayor, Jefferson leaders, Governor, Lt. Governor and LED also played indispensable roles. Over 100 other business people, civic leaders and interested parties – from Lafayette to Pensacola – pitched in. Without question, this flight would not have happened but for exceptional public/private teamwork.

And it took perseverance: four years, three trips to London, and hundreds of hours of analysis, development and meetings. They didn’t get it on their first, or even second try. But they were confident that the more British Airways came to understand the numbers, the narrative and the team, the more they would come to see that New Orleans was an outstanding opportunity.

Finally, it took technology: the Boeing 787 aircraft. The “Dreamliner” is the most advanced commercial jetliner flying today. Not only does the 787 fly at lower pressure and higher humidity – resulting in a more refreshing flight – but it also is a smaller, more fuel efficient long-haul aircraft, making routes like New Orleans / London more accessible.

British Airways lands in New Orleans Paul Murphy

NEW ORLEANS – For the first time in thirty years, the Crescent City has a new, non-stop, direct flight to Europe.

British Airways (BA) began its four-day-a-week service Monday between New Orleans and London.

Nicolas Krohne, British Airways Vice President of sales for North America, has high hopes for the new flights.

"We are very, very excited," Krohne said. "New Orleans is a natural fit for British Airways. It's a thriving economic city with a lot of growth. Likewise, Europeans are very excited to come visit New Orleans as well."

It took local business and civic leaders several years and multiple trips to England to convince British Airways to take another look at New Orleans.

The airline ended its regular flights to the Big Easy in the early 1980s. Michael Hecht, GNO Inc. CEO, was part of the delegation that landed BA. He calls the direct access to Europe a game changer for both business and leisure travelers.

"This is something that's going to change the way that we do business in New Orleans, change the way that we do conventions, change the hospitality industry," Hecht said. "We talk about GNO global, this actually makes us global once again."

Hecht also maintains the British Airways flights are on a use it or lose it basis.

"Now that we've actually caught the plane so to speak, now we've got to fly in it," Hecht said. "We want to take this current route which is four days a week, we want to use it so much that they give us additional days."

According to the New Orleans Advocate, that's already happened. Shortly after the first flight touched down Monday, The Advocate reported flights had been expanded from four to five days a week.

Business owner and Louisiana Board of International Commerce Chairman Greg Rusovich is among the local leaders flying to London on the first British Airways flight.

"I've traveled the world in my business for four decades now," Rusovich said. "Every time it's always been connecting somewhere. Those connections are really hard."

Rusovich added flying non-stop is the way to go.

"To be on a flight from New Orleans is just terrific, to go right into a European center of commerce, British center of commerce and to be able to travel there, the Middle East, Africa, it's just terrific.

Krohne said so far advanced bookings for the New Orleans flight are very promising. As of March 27, you can buy a round-trip ticket to London for $899.

"At the moment, the current performance is very strong from both sides of the pond," Krohne said.

Armstrong International will also soon have a non-stop flight to Germany.

In May, Condor Airlines begins its seasonal service between New Orleans and Frankfurt

Newest International Route Links Two Gems For Travelers, London And

New Orleans Larry Olmsted

Big Easy, meet the Big Smoke. Okay, in this case New Orleans has the much cooler nickname, since London’s less used nom de plume came about from air pollution, specifically the “Great Smog of 1952,” and stuck, even though today’s London is a much greener city. But both are tremendous tourism destinations, with London the single most popular destination for Americans traveling outside North America, and New Orleans the most unique and distinctly characteristic American metropolis, especially when it comes to cuisine, culture, music, and attitude, all found here in a way they cannot be experienced anyplace else, topped with a healthy dose of joie de vivre. Tonight, a British Airways Dreamliner will leave Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport bound for London’s Heathrow, and amazingly, this represents the first non-stop flight from New Orleans to Europe since 1982. That’s a quarter century in the making, and for both Louisiana locals and Europeans, it is a great thing. Foreigners who have not made it to the Crescent City yet don’t know what they are missing (here is a piece I did previously for Forbes.com on New Orleans as a great weekend destination). “With the start of the new British Airways direct flight, we look forward to further introducing New Orleans as a world-class destination to the UK and other European markets,” said Stephen Perry, President & CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Burea, via release. The new route “will allow even more international visitors to experience our vibrant neighborhoods, evolving food and art scene, admired traditions and so much more.” British Airways is one of the world’s great carriers, and the Boeing 787-8 will offer three classes of service, World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and Club World (business). A longtime aviation pioneer, it was British Airways that introduced the lay flat business class seat to the world, perhaps the greatest boon to the modern luxury and business traveler. Because overnight trans-Atlantic flights get in so early and hotels rooms often are not available yet, business class travelers can also take advantage of British Airways arrival lounge in Heathrow, where they can enjoy breakfast, coffee, papers, relaxation and full shower suite facilities before even leaving the airport (as well as fast track express immigration lines). The airline has also been extensively upgrading its World Traveller plus cabins, and this is the new posher configuration. But customers in all classes enjoy free meals, beverages, on-demand entertainment, and a free checked bag. To celebrate the new route, for the first two months the airline will serve a specially prepared New Orleans Creole food menu. The new route means more than just London. “We are honored to be able to connect New Orleans with London Heathrow and the 130 plus destinations that British Airways flies to across Europe and beyond.” said Nicolas Krohne, the airline’s Vice President of Sales, via release. “With a favorable exchange rate and special fares available, Britain has never been more affordable.”

The special fares he refers to begin at $899, including all taxes, fees, and charges, and this promotion will be offered at the airline’s website for flights all summer long, and again from October to December. As a member of the OneWorld alliance, British Airways is partnered with American Airline’s AAdvantage frequent flier program, allowing members of both airline programs to use miles, accrue miles and mix and match flights worldwide.