Starting on the first day of the 2024 summer schedule (i.e. March 31, 2024), British Airways will change the aircraft types used on its double daily London Heathrow – Tokyo Haneda route. Most notably, the airline will use Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on the route for the first time.
The rotation departing London Heathrow in the morning will switch from the current 787-9 to the A350-1000, and will operate daily during the summer schedule as follows:
- BA7 / London Heathrow – Tokyo Haneda / 9:10AM – 7:00+1
- BA8 / Tokyo Haneda – London Heathrow / 8:50AM – 3:45PM
British Airways recently took delivery of the last, 18th A350-1000 it had on order, and operates the type in a three-class configuration with 56 business class, 56 premium economy, and 219 economy class seats for a total capacity of 331 passengers. Its 787-9s, on the other hand, are in a four-class configuration seating up to 215 passengers including eight in first, 38 in business, 39 in premium economy, and 130 in economy class.
With that, while the airline will offer 116 extra seats per rotation with the type change, first class will be discontinued on the morning flight.
The rotation departing Heathrow around noon will switch from the current 777-300ER to the 787-9, and will operate daily as follows:
- BA5 / London Heathrow – Tokyo Haneda / 1:00PM – 10:55AM+1
- BA6 / Tokyo Haneda – London Heathrow / 1:05PM – 7:55PM
The airline’s 777-300ERs are in a four-class configuration with 254 seats including eight in first, 76 in business, 40 in premium economy, and 130 in economy class. The equipment change will mean 39 fewer seats per flight with 38 of those being business and one premium economy.
Combined, British Airways will offer 77 more seats per day during the summer schedule than it does now. However, the breakdown will be considerably less premium with first class seats going down from 16 to just eight and business class seats from 114 to 94.
