BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados has welcomed the announcement by British Airways (BA) to increase by 70 per cent the number of seats to the island for the 2026/2027 winter season and, an over 100 per cent increase next summer.
“This speaks to the demand that exists for travel to Barbados and the region. We are exceptionally happy that BA has continued to demonstrate this strong vote of confidence in Barbados as a destination, as demonstrated by their commitment to increase capacity on the Barbados route at this time,” said the chief executive officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Andrea Franklin.
“Ensuring Barbados remains accessible to our valued UK visitors is a top priority. This expanded partnership with British Airways also ensures fantastic options for connectivity, providing more opportunities for travellers from all regions of the United Kingdom, Europe, the African continent, the Middle East and beyond,” she added.
BTMI said that the new expanded schedule could deliver more than 120,000 additional seats to the island a year, mainly due to the relaunch of a year-round Gatwick service from the United Kingdom.
Starting October 25, this year, BA will introduce a direct daily service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), coinciding with the start of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) winter season.
This service will complement the existing London Heathrow Services which continue daily to November before increasing to twice daily from December to March 2027. As a result, BA will now operate three daily direct flights from the UK to Barbados during the winter: one from Gatwick and two from Heathrow, a first for the island.
The Gatwick service will then continue into Summer 2027, creating history with BA’s first ever double-daily summer service to Barbados.
The Gatwick service will operate as a shared service with Guyana, Tobago or Grenada on six days, with a dedicated Barbados service on Wednesdays. The BTMI said that this expanded capacity provides UK travellers, particularly families, with greater flexibility and supports growing demand for travel to Barbados year-round.
The enhanced airlift also offers visitors access to Barbados’ signature events, such as the Crop Over Festival, Barbados Ninja Throwdown, Dive Fest and Rally Barbados that are held during the summer.
“This enhanced airlift is part of Barbados’ broader strategy, underscoring its enduring appeal as the number one English-speaking Caribbean destination in the UK. British Airways has served Barbados for more than 72 years and continues to support tourism to the island through direct flights,” the BTMI said in a statement, adding that the new and expanded services illustrate the strength of the Barbados-UK relationship and the island’s ongoing dedication to delivering outstanding travel experiences.
