British Airways to Go Daily on Pittsburgh-London Route

Popular transatlantic route increasing to seven days a week for Summer 2025

By Evan Dougherty

Published September 13, 2024

Read Time: 3 mins

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Pittsburgh continues to embrace British Airways’ nonstop flights to London and in response to the success of the route, the airline is once again increasing service to the United Kingdom’s capital starting next year.

In its summer 2025 schedule released by the airline Thursday, British Airways announced it will upgrade its nonstop service between Pittsburgh International Airport and London Heathrow Airport from six days a week to seven days starting March 31, 2025 with daily flights operating through October. It will be the first time the route will operate daily since its introduction in 2019.

The estimated direct, indirect and induced economic impact of the additional flight is expected to generate nearly $6.2 million, according to Boston-based research firm EBP US, increasing the total projected regional economic impact of this route to $75 million annually.

British Airways’ updated 2025 summer schedule between Pittsburgh and London consists of the following times, with all flights operated on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft:

  • The inbound flight BA171 departs from London Heathrow at 5:05 p.m. local time and arrives in Pittsburgh at 8:10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. On Sundays, BA171 departs from London at 4:40 p.m. and arrives in Pittsburgh at 7:45 p.m.
  • The outbound flight BA170 departs Pittsburgh at 9:55 p.m. and arrives at London Heathrow at 10:20 a.m. the next morning Monday-Saturday. On Sundays, BA170 departs Pittsburgh at 9:40 p.m. and arrives at London Heathrow at 10:05 a.m. the next day.

British Airways’ summer schedule is now available for booking, and flights can be purchased at britishairways.com. The year-round route continues to operate four times weekly during the winter season.

A full daily schedule is a significant boost for the Pittsburgh-London route and its continued growth, first operating four times a week in 2019 and 2022 and upgrading to six times a week in the summers of 2023 and 2024. It’s a major benefit to consumers as daily flights will provide business and leisure travelers more flexibility when flying on British Airways from Pittsburgh to London and points beyond.

A British Airways 787-8 Dreamliner lands at PIT from London Heathrow on May 21, 2024. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)

Daily service to London is another win for PIT’s overall network of nonstop transatlantic flights. In May, British Airways was joined by Icelandair launching four times a week seasonal service between PIT and Reykjavik, Iceland, restoring nonstop flights to one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations and adding more seamless connections across the Atlantic.

PIT and British Airways have extensively worked together on growing the Pittsburgh-London route, including next year’s upgrade to daily flights. Continued strong passenger demand on the route, along with a growing business for international air freight, are major contributors British Airways’ success in Pittsburgh and were among key drivers for increased service.

RELATED: BA Posts Record Passenger Numbers in Pittsburgh

“British Airways has been a key part in bringing Pittsburgh to the world, and the world to Pittsburgh with access to London, Europe, India, and other exciting destinations worldwide,” Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis said. “This investment to increase service demonstrates the continued popularity international travel has from our market. We expect daily service next summer will further grow demand and the economic impact this route has in our region.”

Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said, “We’re excited to be able to offer daily flights between Pittsburgh and London for the first time in six years. With the increase in our daily service, we look forward to providing travelers with more options throughout the popular Summer months.”

British Airways’ massive London Heathrow network of over 190 destinations across more than 65 countries, its prominent role in the Oneworld Alliance and ties with partner carriers, such as American Airlines, Iberia and Qatar Airways, provide widespread connectivity worldwide. Nonstop service to London Heathrow has unlocked numerous connection opportunities between Pittsburgh and popular global cities such as Barcelona, Mumbai, New Delhi, Paris and Rome.

While the airline continues to see growth on the passenger side, British Airways has also found success as a catalyst for Pittsburgh’s growing air cargo market. Earlier this year, British Airways surpassed 10 million pounds of freight flown at PIT and is on pace to set a new annual record in 2024.

RELATED: British Airways Air Freight Surges at PIT

A multitude of products and companies are relying on British Airways’ service to Pittsburgh including automotive and manufacturing parts, baby formula and other goods. Increased service to London will provide more opportunities for shipments bound to and from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India.