Tanaka07

I assume its IND or MCI. Both Currently lack nonstop TATL service.

ISTFlyer

I would say Providence or Hartford if it's going to be a total new destination, however, I also have a feeling that they might take over AA's RDU route.
Detroit is another option that comes into my mind.

corporate-wage-slave

My first thought was also IND, perhaps MSP, though Delta flies to London from there. Both airports are very nicely modernised with IND having some nice features landside, which is unusual in the USA. The answer will be, though, whichever airport or local government unit is ready and willing to offer a route minimum income guarantee to BA.

becks1

Selfishly, I would love MSP.

Our airport is modern and we have several Delta flights, including an almost-always sold out daily to LHR. We also overindex in large companies, so perhaps they could nick some corporate contracts. It would be nice to have some competition on the route.

MaxFlyer

I would like MSP too as currently I have to route via Chicago, unless I want to fly SkyTeam.

Farringdon

If it�s MSP they�ll need to sort out a lounge. There�s nothing currently for OneWorld- a surprise at such a large airport.

Telegraph

Yawn! No Bangkok, a huge Asian city, yet they will fly to another boring US town!

Swanhunter

Exactly my thoughts. No BKK KUL ICN SGN CGK but yet another irrelevant 3rd rate US city.

Cymro

I wonder how long this situation will last; I'm quite happy with QR taking up the slack, as long as the price is right.

The problem is that pre-COVID, BKK sold loads of seats at rock-bottom prices because there were 50-odd airlines offering tickets LHR-BKK or LHR-XXX-BKK. If you're Air Astana that doesn't matter - you can use that pricing to shift excess capacity on LHR-ALA and ALA-BKK, if there is any, as you have an effective monopoly on those routes and can cut off the supply of super-cheap LHR-ALA-BKK fairly easily and painlessly.

If you're BA, and to an extent, TG, it means that your non-stop service is always going to be undercut by someone else - so your entire flight becomes "excess capacity."

If BA starts flying to Little Rock or wherever, then unless they have a strong feeder arrangement with DL or UA, they'll get nearly 100% of the high-value London traffic from that destination, and a very good share of the non-London transatlantic trade. Meanwhile, at least until Club Suites is universal and LHR's logistics issues are fixed, there are issues of depressed demand and capacity constraints flying east, while competing with a superior product from most OW airlines (CX, QR, AY, arguably MH, etc.). I expect the BA position will improve but we'll never be in a position where BA flies mainly to places that Brits want to go to.

Swanhunter

Agree it does feel like Asia is being left to QR. A far superior J product and wider set of destinations means this is no bad thing on the whole, but on some routes a direct flight is rather desirable.

sammyg901

Not forgetting that many US flights turn around within 24hrs, crew on the ground 1 night, 2 man flight deck. Vs Asia where it's getting on for 2 days, longer stopover for crew etc with the fares quite often similar and certainly not 2x as much in many cases.

It makes sense to route the traffic via Doha especially as many of these destinations have no direct competition and QR with it's product, frequencies and multiple UK departure points is often the best option even if not seeking a OW option

South London Bon Viveur

I guess BA is going where the money is and that's USA not Asia, although it is a rather skewed footprint. BA's coverage of the world outside the USA and Europe with its own metal is remarkably poor IMO, although the code shares and other OW carriers get you there most of the time, which is the whole point I suppose.

Selfishly would like to see Hartford, but MSP and Detroit would seem to be much more obvious choices.

msm2000uk

I'll put a vote in for SDF (Louisville, KY).

Huge amount of money coming into the area, and the airport could certainly afford to offer BA a subsidy for the first few years to help build up trade.

M

ajamieson

Would also reckon on Cincinnati, Cleveland or Columbus 🥱

Cymro

Also opens up O&D from Indianapolis and Cincinatti.