The British are ... returning.
With the future of a British Airways flight from Pittsburgh in doubt for more than a year, the airline announced Monday that it will resume the nonstop jaunt from Pittsburgh International Airport to London on June 3.
The flight to London’s Heathrow Airport once again will operate four days a week — Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still very much entrenched, the return of the flight represents a big spark for the airport and the region.
British Airways halted the nonstop on March 15, 2020, less than a year after starting it — in part as a result of the travel restrictions imposed between Europe and the United States because of the pandemic.
Since then, the airline missed several deadlines for a possible restart, including last March 28.
But the fortunes for a possible return brightened recently when the U.S. lifted the travel ban on international visitors in November.
Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, had predicted at one point that the flight would resume in spring 2022. She proved to be a clairvoyant.
“The economic benefits provided by nonstop service between London and Pittsburgh are far-reaching,” she said in a statement Monday. “We’ve said all along that it’s important that this flight succeeds, and we’re thrilled for a 2022 return during the busy summer travel season.”
Airport officials have estimated the flight will mean more than $50 million a year for the Pittsburgh economy.
Its launch in April 2019 was backed by $3 million in subsidies spread over two years. The authority has paid half of that so far.
“This flight is a big deal for our region, and we are so pleased to welcome British Airways back. I thank them for recognizing our regional renaissance and demand for nonstop service to London,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. “The business and leisure connections between Pittsburgh and the U.K. are numerous and this flight will be an economic driver for both markets.”
Pittsburgh-based PPG, the coatings giant and frequent flier between the Steel City and London, welcomed the flight back.
“We are pleased to see this important flight return to service. PPG has a significant presence in the U.K. with more than 2,500 employees and this flight provides direct access to this key country and others throughout Europe,” it stated. “It also provides our colleagues and European leadership a more efficient way to visit PPG's global headquarters here in Pittsburgh.”
Pre-pandemic, company employees took about 300 trips a year between Pittsburgh and the U.K., where PPG has significant operations with five production facilities.
Although business travel has been severely curtailed during COVID, PPG fully intends to use the nonstop once it returns, spokesman Mark Silvey said.
“As public health conditions allow, we anticipate again taking advantage of this important flight to connect with customers and colleagues in the U.K. and Europe for in-person opportunities,” he said.
For William Swelbar, chief industry analyst at the Swelbar-Zhong consultancy in Virginia, British Airways’ decision to restart the Pittsburgh nonstop came as a surprise.
A month ago, he had predicted that BA and other major airlines would concentrate on major gateways like New York, Los Angeles and Boston before turning their attention to smaller markets.
“Clearly there was some demand for Pittsburgh as well,” he said.
He noted that British Airways witnessed a 700% increase in searches on its websites for trips to the United States after the Biden administration lifted the international travel ban. That may have played a role in the airline’s thinking, he said.
Or it may just be that demand for international travel is returning enough at this point in the pandemic that British Airways is comfortable revisiting Pittsburgh.
“There are so many people wanting to get back to London,” he said. “There’s going to be tremendous competition. I have to believe prices will be reasonable though the summer.”
Ms. Cassotis learned Sunday that the airline would be returning. While some wondered whether the airline would ever come back, she said in an interview that she never doubted.
“They were always coming back. I told you that and I was right. They invested in this market for a reason and they knew they eventually would come back. It’s just when the right time would be,” she said.
Ms. Cassotis said she had been talking to the carrier “intermittently” about its return since it suspended the flight. The flight moved to the top of the airport’s mind as vaccines became available and the international travel ban ended.
“I think it shows that British Airways believes in Pittsburgh. They believe that we’re a strong market. They’re coming back year-round, which is very good news,” she said.
“I’m thrilled with the confidence BA has in Pittsburgh and in the region.”
The return is coming at a time when the airport and Ms. Cassotis have seen an uptick in business travel, although it is still nowhere near as vigorous as leisure.
“We’ve seen it return to the terminal. I’ve seen it on the airplanes I’ve been flying on. It’s not as robust as it was but it’s coming back,” she said. “It will be slower than leisure but it will return.”
While Ms. Cassotis didn’t think the airline’s relaunch had much to do with $1.5 million subsidy it is still to receive, Mr. Swelbar said it probably didn’t hurt.
“Those communities willing to put some money up typically move to the top of the list,” he said.
Pittsburgh isn’t the only city where British Airways is resuming service. It restarted nonstops between New Orleans and Nashville last week. It also will be starting a nonstop between Portland, Ore., and London, put on hold during the pandemic, the same day it is resuming the Pittsburgh flight.
Based on a quick search of the British Airways site, one-way fares from Pittsburgh ranged from $201 to $620, depending on the day of the week and the time of year. The higher fares coincide with the busy summer travel season, while the cheaper ones are available in the fall.
The flight will leave Pittsburgh at 9:50 p.m. and land in London at 10:10 a.m. the following day. It will take off from London at 4:45 p.m. and touch down in Pittsburgh at 7:50 p.m.
Tickets are available to purchase at BA.com. British Airways will use a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner featuring 214 seats to make the flights. The plane also will have the ability to haul cargo, a growing segment for Pittsburgh International.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262
First Published: December 13, 2021, 4:12 p.m.