British Airways’ summer 2016 schedule hots up with additional flights to the sun

There will be more seats to European holiday hotspots this summer as British Airways increases flights to the sun from Heathrow and Gatwick.

During the peak summer season, from May to September, there will be one additional flight a week to Athens and Lisbon from Heathrow and two additional weekly flights to Gibraltar.

Holiday-makers wanting to sun themselves on the Cote d’Azur benefit from a boosted-up schedule to Nice, with the airline adding five flights a week to the French coastal city.

Customers flying from Gatwick can head to sunnier climes on extra weekly flights to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Funchal.

Lynne Embleton, British Airways’ director of strategy and managing director Gatwick, said: “More flights to favourite holiday destinations is fantastic news for families wanting to get away for some summer sun.

“We’ve added extra flights to Canary Island favourites Tenerife and Lanzarote and to Funchal, adding up to a great summer schedule offering a brilliant choice for customers who need a summer break to the best destinations.”

This year British Airways will also be launching 18 new routes, including four new long-haul services to San Jose, Lima, Costa Rica and Tehran.

New ‘sunshine spots’ include Mahon, Palermo, Biarritz, Chania and Kalamata from Heathrow, Bergerac from London City and Ibiza, Malaga and Palma from Stansted.

All British Airways flights include a generous baggage allowance, free online check-in and seat selection 24 hours prior to departure as well as complimentary in-flight refreshments.

Customers travelling on short-haul services can also benefit from hand baggage only fares, family travellers have the option to board first and children on flights longer than two hours receive a complimentary Skyflyer activity pack.