Last Updated: 08 Oct 2024
British Airways has revealed the initial list of destinations for its new “BA EuroFlyer” low-cost subsidiary. In further good news, Reward Flight Finder understands that the current plan is to allow Avios points to be earned and redeemed in the same way as on other short-haul BA flights and that popular frequent-flyer perks, such as free lounge access for Silver and Gold BA Exec Club members, will still be offered too.
The first destinations to be served by the new airline, departing from London Gatwick Airport (LGW), are Amsterdam, Larnaca, Paphos, Seville, Tenerife and Verona.
The number of Avios points you would need to redeem for a reward flight to these destinations, outside of any promotional offers, is currently as follows:
Destination | Economy (Off-Peak) | Business (Off-Peak) | Economy (Peak) | Business (Peak) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amsterdam | 4,750 | 8,500 | 5,250 | 9,750 |
Larnaca | 9,250 | 17,750 | 10,750 | 20,750 |
Paphos | 9,250 | 17,750 | 10,750 | 20,750 |
Seville | 7,250 | 13,500 | 8,250 | 15,750 |
Tenerife | 9,250 | 17,750 | 10,750 | 20,750 |
Verona | 7,250 | 13,500 | 8,250 | 15,750 |
Check out the latest Avios offers to every BA destination here
2022 Holiday Destinations
The new flights, operated by BA EuroFlyer, will start from 29 March 2022 and British Airways has plans to expand the number of European destinations its new subsidiary serves to around 35 by late May 2022. Faro, Marrakech, Ibiza and Malaga are rumoured to be high on that list.
This expansion of flights to short-haul European destinations is great news, particularly for Avios collectors to earn their points flying on business, with the hope of redeeming them for some cut-price holiday sun.
Search 2022 BA Reward Flight Availability
It’s worth remembering though that, even with these new flights, British Airways' presence at Gatwick will be about half its size in 2019. The reason for the new subsidiary is that the pandemic meant BA could no longer afford to maintain two London hubs whilst sustaining its pre-pandemic cost base at both. In March 2020 British Airways suspended operations at Gatwick, as the impact of coronavirus hit travel hard, with many short-haul routes subsequently transferred to Heathrow, with a few short-haul and domestic operations recommencing at Gatwick as restrictions eased.
But BA doesn’t want to become wholly reliant on Heathrow as its only London base. London’s largest airport has limited slot capacity and high airline fees. Gatwick offers British Airways a way to expand again at a lower cost, as travel demand grows again. Having the option to grow at Gatwick also gives the airline a better negotiating position when it comes to agreeing on its fees at Heathrow too.
Frequent Flyer Perks
BA EuroFlyer operates a lower-cost model, for example, staff will have less lucrative employment terms than many of those employed by the parent brand at Heathrow. The parent company believes this lower cost base is essential for short-haul operations from Gatwick to be economically viable. But British Airways representatives are keen to stress that the product offered to passengers will remain the same.
A BA spokesperson said: “Customers will receive the same high level of service they expect of British Airways as well as enjoying the benefits of travelling with the UK’s flag carrier including a generous baggage allowance, free water and snacks, free seat selection and frequent flyer benefits which include lounge access.”
It’s that last line which will be a relief for many British Airways Executive Club members, especially those who live in the south-east of England, with easy access to Gatwick. Some industry commentators had previously speculated that perks such as airline lounges and Avios points redemptions might go under the new low-cost model.
Slot Games
Even with the new routes announced, it remains to be seen if BA will retain the same number of slots it operated from Gatwick before the pandemic. A fixed number of take-off and landing slots are allocated to each UK airport. Airlines pay for these slots, which can be traded but also forfeited if they aren’t used. When the pandemic peaked, the British Government suspended its “use it or lose it” rule for these airline slots. But many believe that rule will be reinstated for flights departing in Summer 2022.
If so, BA will have to find a way to use its full allocation of Gatwick slots, sell them to a “friendly” partner or risk losing any unused slots to competitors. Of course, the airline would rather sell slots than forfeit them, but if it can’t justify the cost of holding onto them it will be desperate to avoid selling them to its biggest rivals.
BA has already been overtaken, as the largest flight operator at Gatwick, by EasyJet which is the largest British budget airline, flying short-haul routes. easyJet has recently agreed on a partnership with Virgin Atlantic, coordinating flight schedules and ticketing from Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast airports. easyJet is believed to be very interested in setting up a similar arrangement at Gatwick too, should Virgin reinstate more flights from the airport, as US travel opens up again. A Virgin/easyJet alliance at Gatwick could create a viable alternative to BA’s UK-based network, especially if it were able to secure additional slots at the right price.
That’s likely the reason behind BA announcing this week that it will expand a joint venture with its Oneworld alliance partner Qatar Airways. British Airways has already confirmed they will reinstate their London Gatwick to Doha flights under this agreement, with connecting onward flights to Australia. Qatar is keen to grow its connections from Europe and those unused BA slots could be a convenient solution for both parties. Avios collectors could be the winners of these slot games, with more long-haul Avios points redemptions becoming available through the Qatar Airways network, which currently serves around 140 connecting destinations from Doha. Watch this space!
Long-haul reward flight seats are limited and in demand.
Start your trip stress-free by booking Official London Gatwick Parking, just moments from the terminal. Enjoy safe, flexible, and convenient parking options—reserve your spot today for ultimate peace of mind! Book here.