British Airways Suspends the Popular Transatlantic Route with 777

LONDON- British Airways (BA) is suspending all flights between London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and New York (JFK). The long-running daily transatlantic service will be discontinued from October 25, coinciding with the airline’s winter schedule.

Passengers traveling from southern England will now be required to use London Heathrow Airport (LHR) instead, where BA plans to consolidate services and expand its transatlantic schedule.

The route suspension leaves only Delta Air Lines (DL) and Norse Atlantic Airways (N0) as the remaining carriers operating between Gatwick and New York.

Photo: Andrew Thomas | Flickr

British Airways Suspends New York Flights

The decision to end Gatwick to New York flights reflects British Airways’ (BA) strategy of concentrating its high-demand transatlantic services at Heathrow.

According to the airline, the move is not a cancellation of scheduled flights since tickets for the Gatwick to New York route were never sold for the winter season.

Instead, BA will incorporate a 9th daily departure from Heathrow to JFK in the summer of 2026, reinforcing Heathrow’s role as the central hub for its New York operations.

The change will reduce Gatwick’s capacity by more than 3,500 passengers per week, a significant shift for travelers across south London, Sussex, and Kent who previously relied on the airport’s accessibility.

Heathrow remains well served by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic (VS), Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines (AA), ensuring a high level of competition on the transatlantic corridor.

Photo: Frank Kovalchek | Flickr

Impact on Passengers

For travelers living closer to Gatwick, the suspension translates to longer journeys and higher costs. Transport to Heathrow can add significant expenses, with Heathrow Express walk-up fares costing £25 one way.

For a family of 4, simply transferring airports could add £100 before factoring in airfare increases.

Reported by The Standard, travel experts highlight that reduced competition at Gatwick will likely push fares upward during peak seasons, last-minute bookings, and premium travel periods.

This could make holiday travel considerably more expensive for families in southern England who now have fewer direct options to New York.

Photo: Mark Gower, Managing Director at Gatwick Ground Services (GGS)

Strategies to Minimize Travel Costs

Industry specialists emphasize that passengers can still take steps to mitigate rising costs. For example, booking flights under “All London” instead of selecting a single airport can reveal cheaper ticket options.

Substituting Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) for JFK could also save families over £150 on long-haul fares.

Travel advisor Paul Gillooly noted that simple booking strategies, such as being flexible with airport choices, dates, and times, can significantly reduce expenses.

Families who plan ahead and compare multiple routes may offset the financial burden of Gatwick’s reduced transatlantic capacity.

Photo: London Gatwick

British Airways’ Broader Strategy

British Airways maintains that consolidating routes at Heathrow allows the airline to deploy resources more efficiently.

A spokesperson confirmed that the move frees aircraft for long-haul leisure destinations. As part of the shift, BA will add extra flights to Bangkok (BKK) and Jamaica (MBJ), reflecting strong demand in leisure markets.

The airline also stated that most customers prefer to fly from Heathrow for transatlantic services, further justifying its decision to centralize operations there.

While the Gatwick to New York suspension may inconvenience some travelers, BA believes the redeployment of aircraft capacity ultimately benefits a wider customer base.

Photo: By Davidi Vardi – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132086956

Future Outlook

Airlines do not expect to resume flights between London Gatwick and New York until March 2026, marking a lengthy gap in direct service from one of the UK’s busiest airports.

During this period, Gatwick passengers will rely on Delta and Norse Atlantic, both of which may face increased demand as a result of BA’s withdrawal.

The consolidation highlights broader trends in aviation: airlines continue to balance operational efficiency with customer convenience, often leading to strategic shifts that impact local markets.

For families and frequent travelers, adapting booking strategies and staying flexible will be key to managing higher costs and reduced choice.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

The post British Airways Suspends the Popular Transatlantic Route with 777 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.