United Kingdom-based British Airways was the only airline to operate nonstop flights between London and San Jose, California. The flag carrier operated direct routes between its Heathrow (LHR) hub and San Jose Airport (SJC) between 2016 and 2020 and from 2022 to 2023. The global pandemic forced the airline to suspend the route in 2020 for the foreseeable future.
While the airline returned to San Jose in 2022, the South Bay aviation hub continued to face turbulence due to pandemic-spawned economic afflictions. British Airways highlighted that some of its major US routes were being suspended due to economic factors as well as disruptions in aircraft deliveries and maintenance issues.
British Airways' first appearance in San Jose
The airline first started the route, catering to Silicon Valley traffic. As the airline was gearing up to deploy its Boeing 747-400 aircraft on the route, the global pandemic put an end to that plan. Moreover, pandemic-related disruptions also resulted in the suspension of British Airways’ first round of operations in San Jose.
An enthusiastic return to San Jose in 2022
Following a lengthy absence due to the global pandemic, the Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) welcomed the airline with open arms. The airline resumed direct flights on the route in June 2022 after a break of over 26 months.
At the time, the Director of Aviation at San Jose Airport, John Aitken, expressed his excitement about the return of British Airways flights by stating,
“As the world continues to open up again, we are excited to welcome British Airways back to San José and Silicon Valley. The resumption of nonstop service connecting San José and London’s Heathrow Airport represents a significant milestone in our recovery and restores an important link for business and leisure travelers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
British Airways flights between SJC and London’s Heathrow Airport initially operated three times weekly, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The airline operated its fleet of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner on this route. The airline operates a fleet of 12 787-8 Dreamliners configured with 204 or 218 seats in three classes of travel. The larger 787-9s, with 18 examples in service, have 218 seats in four cabin classes.
British Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Club World
- 31 vector suites (or 35 lie-flat seats)
- Static 18.5" HD touchscreen display
World Traveler Plus
- 37 or 29 Recaro seats
- Row pitch: 38"
- Seat width: 18.7"
- Seat recline: 8"
- Pivoting 12" HD touchscreen display
World Traveler
- 136 or 154 Recaro seats
- Row pitch: 31"
- Seat width: 17.1"
- Seat recline: 5"
- Pivoting 10" HD touchscreen display
British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
First Class
- Eight suites
- Seat width: 22"
- Static 23" HD touchscreen display
Club World
- 42 lie-flat seats
- Retractable, double pivoting 15.4" HD touchscreen display
World Traveler Plus
- 39 Recaro seats
- Row pitch: 38"
- Seat width: 18.7"
- Seat recline: 10"
- Pivoting 10.6" HD touchscreen display
World Traveler
- 127 Recaro seats
- Row pitch: 31"
- Seat width: 17.1"
- Seat recline: 5"
- Pivoting 8.9" HD touchscreen display
British Airways catered to both the point-to-point traffic as well as travelers on its oneworld alliance partners. From Asia and the Middle East to Africa, the airline offers access to Silicon Valley through its hub in Europe. British Airways Head of North America sales, Marie Hilditch, commented,
“We can’t wait to welcome our customers back on board our San José flights, and we are honored to be playing our part in reuniting families and friends after such a long time apart.”
British Airways fleet
The SJC operations did not last as long in the second term, with the airline suspending the route for good in November 2023. The airline had begun to scale down its operations a year prior to the complete suspension when daily flights were reduced to 4-5 times weekly at the tail end of 2022. The airline pulled the plug in October 2023 due to the poor economic viability of the route and fleet issues at British Airways.
A growing trend at British Airways?
In the past few years, British Airways has cut several US destinations, primarily due to delays in new aircraft deliveries and maintenance issues with existing aircraft. The most recent suspension saw a temporary suspension of direct flights to Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) from March to October this year.
“We’ve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve. We’ve apologized to those affected and are able to offer the vast majority a flight the same day with British Airways or one of our partner airlines.”
BA’s transatlantic partner, American Airlines, has helped the airline by picking up some routes for Dallas and Miami. American Airlines resumed its second-daily service from Miami to London Heathrow.
A chance for redemption at San Jose
While British Airways is not eyeing the same route anytime soon, the airline does have a chance to redeem itself. Airport officials at San Jose International have offered British Airways economic incentives to entice them to return to the airport. The airline has signed a termination agreement with the airport to opt out of its service lease early. As a result, British Airways would pay the airport approximately $607,500.
According to John Aitken,
"(British Airways) has been a good carrier for SJC and recommended settlement is acceptable to both SJC and (British Airways). The settlement provides SJC with reasonable consideration while maintaining an encouraging path for (British Airways) to potentially resume air service."
San Jose International Airport is putting a generous incentive in the form of a $303,700 credit if the airline resumes its flights within a period of two years. In other words, if British Airways decides to return to San Jose by October (two years after its route termination in October 2023), the airport offers a credit towards the next contract.
According to the San Jose airport deputy director, Scott Wintner,
"We’re continuously talking with other potential partners about the opportunity to expand service – both international and domestic – in and out of SJC. Those conversations will continue regardless of what (British Airways) determines is in its best business interest."
Would BA take it or has it completely ditched the idea of resuming direct flights from Heathrow to San Jose? While the chances are bleak due to factors related to operational economics and fleet issues, the return cannot be completely ruled out.
