Quantcast

British Airways introduces Avios-only flights between London Heathrow and Cape Town

European air traffic warning means summer delays for holidaymakers
The EU rule change that could affect millions of Brits when their flight is delayed or cancelled
Delta Earnings Land Soon. Why They’re Key for Airline Stocks and the Economy.
Avelo Airlines to Operate Deportation Flights, Hiring Flight Attendants
Travel chaos 2025: all the strikes and disruption expected across Europe
United receives FAA approval for first Starlink-equipped planes
Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
British Airways introduces Avios-only flights between London Heathrow and Cape Town
Policy
Webp sean
Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive | British Airways

British Airways has announced that it will operate Avios-only flights between London Heathrow and Cape Town, making every seat on these flights available for booking exclusively with Avios points. The new route marks the 7,500th Avios-only seat since the program started in 2023. Avios is a digital loyalty currency used by British Airways and other airlines such as Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Finnair, and Loganair.

The flights are scheduled for the winter holiday period. The outbound flight from London Heathrow (BA43) departs on December 20, 2025 at 18:25 local time and arrives in Cape Town at 08:00 local time. The return flight (BA42) leaves Cape Town on January 2, 2026 at 20:35 and lands in London at 07:45 local time. British Airways will use its Boeing 777 widebody aircraft for this service but did not specify which variant will be deployed. According to ch-aviation data, both the Boeing 777-200ER and Boeing 777-300ER can carry up to 254 passengers across four cabin classes.

Members of the British Airways Club frequent flyer program can book these flights starting from 70,000 Avios plus £150 ($198), depending on cabin class.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Rob McDonald, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Loyalty, commented on the launch: “We know how popular Avios-Only flights are with customers and we’re incredibly excited to work with British Airways to offer the next long-haul Avios-Only flight to Cape Town, operating over the peak Christmas period. This will allow customers to take full advantage of the value Avios unlocks on an incredibly popular route.”

This initiative follows earlier Avios-only routes introduced by British Airways since April 2023. Initial destinations included Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Geneva; both sold out within a day of being offered. Subsequent routes have included Las Palmas, Lanzarote, Barcelona, Nice, Tenerife, Faro, Ibiza, Florence, Mallorca, Corfu and Barbados among others.

Avios-only seats are sold like regular Reward Seats so customers holding a British Airways American Express Credit Card can use Companion Vouchers for these bookings—either securing a second seat for just taxes and fees or obtaining one seat for half the usual number of points.

Currently British Airways is the only airline offering direct nonstop service between London Heathrow and Cape Town. Typical aircraft deployed include Boeing 777s as well as Boeing 787s or Airbus A350s. The journey covers approximately 5,209 nautical miles (9,646 kilometers) with an estimated flight duration of around eleven hours according to Flightradar24.com data.

As per ch-aviation figures cited by Simple Flying https://www.ch-aviation.com/, British Airways operates a fleet including forty-three Boeing 777-300ERs along with sixteen Boeing 777-200ERs; other widebodies include eighteen Airbus A350-1000s and various models of Dreamliners such as twelve each of Boeing’s -8,-9,-10 variants.

The airline continues to expand its fleet with future deliveries expected for thirty-eight additional Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners and six Airbus A350-100 widebodies.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Emirates Airlines has highlighted the evolution of its cabin crew uniform, emphasizing its commitment to timeless design and practicality.

Oct 23, 2025

Emirates has achieved the Gold Tier status in the 2024 Fly Quiet Programme at New York’s JFK Airport, making it the only airline to receive this distinction among all participating carriers.

Oct 23, 2025

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, with all five applicants receiving awards this year.

Oct 23, 2025

Dnata, a global provider of air and travel services, has entered into a joint venture with Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Group to launch ground handling and cargo operations at Alat International Airport, located in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku.

Oct 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced the release of version 7.5 of its mobile app, introducing new features aimed at making travel planning and management easier for customers during the holiday season.

Oct 22, 2025

The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a former employee of dnata Airport Services was unfairly dismissed and awarded $36,468.39 in compensation.

Oct 22, 2025