British Airways Offers First Year-Round Flights Between London, Portland, Oregon

Published 01/05/2020 at 6:22 PM PDT
By OREGON TRAVEL DAILY STAFF

(Portland, Oregon) – Starting the first day of June in 2020, British Airways will launch nonstop flights between London and Portland, Oregon. It’s the first non-stop flights between the UK metropolis and the Oregon hotspot that are year-round, and they go both ways: from Portland to London and from London to the Rose City. During summer they’ll depart five days a week and then move to four days per week in winter - all aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The flights to London from Portland come with a choice of three cabins. Round trip fares starting at $487 for World Traveller (Economy), $1,410 for World Traveller Plus (Economy Plus) and $2,995 for Club World (Business) are available to book now on ba.com

According to Portland International Airport, the new service will run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday departing from PDX at 6:45 p.m. and landing into London Heathrow at 12:10 p.m. the following day. The return flight will leave London Heathrow at 3:05 p.m., arriving into Portland at 4:55 p.m.

This schedule allows for plenty of flexibility for connections to and from Europe as well as other destinations in the U.K. An extra benefit is the opportunity to earn and redeem miles and points between British Airways and Alaska Airlines.

British Airways is investing $8.2 billion (£6.5 billion) in infrastructure and hardware for its customers over five years. The airline is boosting the quality of its Wi-Fi and power in every aircraft seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. Earlier this year, the airline introduced its Club Suite, a new business class seat with direct aisle access.

“It’s a great gateway for U.K. visitors wanting to experience Portland/Oregon/Pacific Northwest as well as Oregonians wanting to visit the U.K.,” said Lorna Davis with Travel Oregon. “Those are some great fares.”

Davis said prices will fluctuate and there won’t actually be a seasonal average as this depends on demand, competition and other factors.

She said there are also seasonal non-stop flights to London from Delta Air Lines / Virgin Atlantic that have been going for some time, but limited to May through October. There are also seasonal direct flights from Norwegian via Seattle and Icelandair via Reykjavik.

London isn’t just the gateway to Europe for Oregonians traveling abroad, it’s also the land of Big Ben, the London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, ancient Roman ruins – and Dr. Who.

For those coming from Europe, Portland is the gateway to Oregon and much of the Pacific Northwest, including the fabulous Oregon coast.

“Portland’s world-class food and beverage offerings, vibrant maker culture and easy access to outdoor adventure make our region a great destination for UK travelers,” says Jeff Miller, president and CEO of Travel Portland. “This first-ever year-round non-stop service from London Heathrow on British Airways will make it easy to get to Portland all year long.”

The Rose City boasts an astounding array of natural beauty, offering visitors a creative journey through its eclectic arts, music, culinary and outdoor scenes, all set against the majestic backdrop of Mt. Hood. From there, the city brings the possibilities of the state’s other esteemed regions: the ocean, mountains, Oregon's wine country, the valleys, high desert, cities, small towns and everything in between.

For further information on the city of Portland visit travelportland.com, and for the wider stage of Oregon visit traveloregon.com. For the coastal region see Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Flights are available to book now from ba.com