British Airways will add Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar to its network from May 2027, while increasing its London Heathrow-Cape Town service from seven to 10 flights a week as part of a wider summer schedule expansion.
Source: British Airways
British Airways will operate the Tanzania service three times a week from London Gatwick, landing in Kilimanjaro before continuing to Zanzibar. The new service starts on 29 May and will operate through 31 October 2027.
New Tanzania connectivity
Kilimanjaro Airport provides access to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, including Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.
It is also the main airport for travellers visiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.
Zanzibar will provide access to the island’s beaches, marine tourism, Stone Town, spice plantations and diving and snorkelling sites.
“We're excited to be launching flights to two exceptional new destinations that showcase the very best of Tanzania. From the vast plains of the Serengeti and the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro to the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of Zanzibar.
"These new routes strengthen our footprint in East Africa and open the door to some of the world's most extraordinary travel experiences,” said Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ chief planning and strategy officer.
Source: Supplied
“Alongside these new routes, we are strengthening our wider long-haul network, adding capacity to a number of popular destinations across Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean.
"By increasing frequencies and extending seasonal services, we're giving customers more choice and flexibility, while deepening London’s connectivity to key destinations around the world,” said Chernoff.
Cape Town frequency rises
British Airways will increase its London Heathrow-Cape Town service from seven flights per week to 10 during summer 2027.
The airline will also increase its London Heathrow-Las Vegas service from 13 to 14 flights per week.
Latin America capacity
British Airways is increasing capacity to Latin America by 25% through changes to services in Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica.
Buenos Aires will move to a daily non-stop service from London, with an onward service to Santiago, Chile.
The daily Rio de Janeiro service will move to a dedicated route without onward tags, increasing seat capacity.
London Heathrow-San José, Costa Rica, will become a year-round service operating three times a week.
Caribbean services
The airline's London Gatwick-Barbados service, launching in October, will continue during summer 2027, with onward services to Grenada, Guyana and Tobago.
London Gatwick-St Lucia will continue as a direct service four times a week during summer 2027.
British Airways has also announced two other long-haul routes launching later this year and early next year.
London Gatwick-Colombo will start on 23 October, while London Heathrow-Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur will begin on 9 January.
